World News for Students of English

25-08-2025 07:00

Doctors in Melbourne studied a new treatment for people with serious illnesses. The treatment uses a drug from “magic mushrooms” called psilocybin, together with talking therapy.

Thirty-five people joined the trial, and many showed less depression and anxiety. They also felt calmer and more at peace when thinking about death.

One patient, Michael Quinn, had cancer and joined the program. His wife Pat said it helped him feel calmer and more relaxed in his last months. Patients usually stayed in quiet rooms, listening to music, and met doctors before and after taking the drug.

Experts say the therapy can help some people, but not everyone, especially those with mental health problems. There has to be more research to make it safe and easier for more people.

Difficult words: treatment (the care or medicine that doctors give to help a sick person), magic mushrooms (a kind of mushroom that changes how you feel), anxiety (a strong feeling of worry).

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