USO TERAPÊUTICO DA PSILOCIBINA: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

A resurgence of scientific and clinical interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly with Psilocybin, has been observed. This paper presents an integrative literature review aiming to identify the scientific contributions, potential benefits, and limitations of the therapeutic use of psilocybin in mental health. The study followed a rigorous protocol. Searches were conducted in the Google Scholar, Sage Journals, SciELO, and PubMed databases for Portuguese-language publications between 2013 and 2025. The controlled descriptors used were: “psilocybin” AND “mental health” AND “therapeutic” AND “therapy.” Inclusion criteria encompassed full articles, literature reviews, academic works (undergraduate theses, dissertations, and doctoral theses), and peer-reviewed journals, while opinion pieces and materials without full access were excluded. The analysis revealed a significant increase in recent research, predominantly comprising reviews and exploratory studies. The results indicate promising therapeutic effects for treatment-resistant conditions, such as depression, anxiety, substance dependence (alcohol and tobacco), and in palliative care for terminally ill patients. The central mechanism of action involves agonism of serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors, inducing altered states of consciousness that, when combined with psychotherapy, foster neural plasticity and promote lasting therapeutic insights. Despite its potential, methodological gaps were identified, including a scarcity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and long-term studies, reflecting the recent revival of interest after decades of prohibition. It is concluded that psilocybin has significant therapeutic potential and is an emerging topic in psychiatry. However, its clinical integration requires rigorous ethical regulation, adequate professional training, and equitable access policies to prevent the treatment from becoming elitist and restricted. There is a clear need for further research with greater methodological rigor (such as RCTs) and interdisciplinary approaches to consolidate the evidence and broaden the understanding of its clinical, social, and cultural effects.