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Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sipan Haikazian, David C J Chen-Li, Danica E. Johnson, Farhan Fancy, Anastasia Levinta, Muhammad Ishrat Husain, Rodrigo B. Mansur, Roger S McIntyre, Joshua D. Rosenblat

Psychiatry Research November 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115531 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Open-label Qualitative Peer reviewed
Sample size 686
Population Patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder
Intervention Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
Topics Depression Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Keywords Life-threatening cancer Mood disorders Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychological disorders Therapy psychotherapy
Citations 121
Key findings Psilocybin therapy produced a large and significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared to control conditions.

Abstract

The aim of this review was to determine the effect of psilocybin on depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder. Systematic searches were conducted to search for randomized clinical trials and open-label trials that evaluated depression symptoms after psilocybin therapy. Data was pooled using a random-effects model. The primary outcome was the standardized mean difference (SMD) in depression severity, determined by calculating the change in depression ratings from baseline to the primary endpoint in the psilocybin arm versus the control arm. The literature search yielded 1734 studies, and 13 studies (n = 686) were included in either qualitative and/or quantitative analyses. The meta-analysis included 9 studies (pooled n = 596) and yielded a large effect size in favour of psilocybin (SMD = -0.78; p<0.001). Risk ratios for response and remission were large and significant in favour of psilocybin. A review of open-label trials showed robust decreases in depressive symptoms following psilocybin administration. These findings provide preliminary evidence for antidepressant efficacy with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, however, further studies are needed to evaluate safety and efficacy and to optimize treatment protocols.

Comparable studies

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

Study Year Design Participants
A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy 2020 Systematic review
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
United States National Institutes of Health grant funding for psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials from 2006-2020. 2022 Systematic review
Safety and risk assessment of psychedelic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Human subjects in studies of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy 2024 Systematic review and meta-analysis n = 30
The Use of Psychedelics in the Treatment of Medical Conditions: An Analysis of Currently Registered Psychedelics Studies in the American Drug Trial Registry. Registered clinical trials on psychedelic drugs in clinicaltrials.gov 2022 Systematic review n = 105

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Depression Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy

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Psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy Psilocybin for depression