A comparison between psilocybin and esketamine in treatment-resistant depression using number needed to treat (NNT): A systematic review.

Abstract

Inadequate outcomes with monoamine-based treatments in depressive disorders are common and provide the impetus for mechanistically-novel treatments. Esketamine is a proven treatment recently approved for adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) while psilocybin is an investigational treatment. Translation of the clinical meaningfulness for these foregoing agents in adults with TRD is required. Herein we evaluate the Number Needed to Treat (NNT) and Harm (NNH) of esketamine and psilocybin in adults with TRD. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, comparing the clinical efficacy of oral psilocybin to the co-commencement of intranasal esketamine with an oral antidepressant in adults with TRD. 25 mg psilocybin had a significant reduction in depressive symptoms at 21-days post-dose, the NNT was 5 [95 % CI = 3.1, 18.5]. Psilocybin-induced nausea had a significant NNH = 5. Fixed-dosed esketamine at 56 mg and 84 mg had a significant effect at 28-days post-dose, (NNT of 7 [95 % CI56mg = 3.5, 46.7], [95 % CI84mg = 3.6, 142.2]). Esketamine-induced headache, nausea, dizziness, and dissociation had NNHs <10. The preliminary results may only reflect a small portion of the patient population. These results require replication and longer term studies investigating maintenance therapy. Relatively few pharmacologic agents are proven safe and effective in adults with TRD. NNT estimates for investigational psilocybin and esketamine in TRD indicate clinical meaningfulness. The NNH profile for both aforementioned agents is clinically acceptable. Our results underscore the clinical relevance of these treatment options in adults with TRD.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

• State of the evidence: Ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy ↑Supports

  Both 25 mg psilocybin and fixed-dose esketamine (56 mg and 84 mg) showed clinically meaningful number-needed-to-treat estimates with acceptable harm profiles in treatment-resistant depression.

  Synthesized September 21, 2026

Comparable studies

Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.