Potential use of psilocybin drugs in the treatment of depression
Katarzyna Śladowska, Paweł Kawalec, Tomasz Brzostek, Andrzej Pilc
Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs October 2, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2023.2264180 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Mental health Depression treatment Psilocybin research Clinical studies |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin has shown promising results in phase I-II trials for depression, but phase III trials are required to confirm efficacy and safety. |
Abstract
Clinical phase I-II trials published to date reported promising results for psilocybin in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, in a relatively short time after administration. However, before psilocybin is approved for use and administered to patients with depression, the results of large ongoing phase III clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety and to change the way it is perceived by physicians and patients.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development | 2018 | Review | |
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| Systematized Review of Psychotherapeutic Components of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy | 2021 | Systematized review | |
| The Emerging Field of Psychedelic Psychotherapy. | 2022 | Review | |
| Experience of Music Used With Psychedelic Therapy: A Rapid Review and Implications Participants in psychedelic therapy research aged 18–69 with varied backgrounds | 2020 | Rapid review | n = 180 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Psilocybin for major depressive disorder: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials Journal of Psychopharmacology October 31, 2024
- Biochemical Insights into Diverse Psilocybe Mushrooms and Their Metabolites as Sources of Neuroactive Agents: A Review. Current microbiology July 15, 2025
- Synthesis of Psilocin, Psilocybin and 5‐MeO‐DMT Succinate, All Labelled With Carbon‐14 at the Indole 2‐Position Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals July 1, 2025
Cites 34
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
and 29 more in the library