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)
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 38
- Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment resistant depression: A randomized clinical trial evaluating repeated doses of psilocybin. Med (New York, N.Y.) March 8, 2024
- Giving consent to the ineffable Neuroethics February 15, 2024
- Pharmacokinetics of Psilocybin: A Systematic Review Pharmaceutics March 25, 2025
- Protocols and practices in psilocybin assisted psychotherapy for depression: A systematic review. Journal of Psychiatric Research August 1, 2024
- Efficacy and acceptability of psilocybin for primary or secondary depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Frontiers in Psychiatry February 15, 2024
and 33 more in the library
Cites 8
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. The New England journal of medicine November 3, 2022
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology (Berl) November 8, 2017
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder JAMA August 31, 2023
- Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up Journal of Psychopharmacology February 1, 2022
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development Frontiers in Pharmacology July 5, 2018
and 3 more in the library