Psilocybin, an Effective Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Adults - A Systematic Review
Tessa Watford, Naqash Masood
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience October 16, 2023 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.23.1120 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Open-label Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 319 |
| Population | Participants with major depressive disorder |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Antidepressant Clinical trial Adverse effect Hallucinogen Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Every study significantly favored psilocybin in reducing depressive symptoms, with few side effects, giving it an advantage over SSRIs. |
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classical psychedelic which has been utilised for healing purposes for millenia. However, with its classification as a Schedule I substance, research into this compound is scarce with few FDA-approved clinical studies. Despite this, profound findings into its antidepressant effects (largely through its action on 5-HT1a receptors) in mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder have rapidly increased interest back into their potential therapeutic benefits. This systematic review provides an analysis of the studies examining the clinical use of psilocybin for major depressive disorder. In total 6 studies were selected, including 319 participants, with half being randomised controlled trials and half open label trials. In every study psychological support was included as an integral part of the treatment. It was found that every study significantly favoured the use of psilocybin in reducing depressive symptoms, with few side effects. This gives psilocybin an advantage over commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which carry more risk and cause more adverse effects. This drug therefore shows promise for being used as a clinical treatment for major depressive disorder, however future research should develop a paradigm for its use, with the timing of sessions and type of psychological support specified to allow for more precise analysis of the clinical effects of the drug. Additionally, more studies into its clinical efficacy are needed for appropriate detection of any publication bias. With this, psilocybin could prove to be revolutionary in treating depression and become an alternative medication to SSRIs.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psilocybin for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies Patients with cancer- or illness-related anxiety and depression, major depressive... | 2020 | Systematic review | n = 188 |
| The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis People with elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression | 2020 | Meta-analysis | n = 117 |
| Psychedelics in the treatment of unipolar mood disorders: a systematic review Patients with broadly defined unipolar mood disorders | 2016 | Systematic review | n = 423 |
| Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... | 2023 | Systematic review with meta-analysis | n = 14 |
| Serotonergic hallucinogens in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from a life-threatening disease: A systematic review. Patients with life-threatening diseases and symptoms of anxiety or depression | 2018 | Systematic review | n = 445 |