Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression

Abstract

On the basis of the change in depression scores on the QIDS-SR-16 at week 6, this trial did not show a significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and escitalopram in a selected group of patients. Secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin over escitalopram, but the analyses of these outcomes lacked correction for multiple comparisons. Larger and longer trials are required to compare psilocybin with established antidepressants. (Funded by the Alexander Mosley Charitable Trust and Imperial College London's Centre for Psychedelic Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03429075.).

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

• State of the evidence: Depression →No effect

  At week 6, psilocybin did not differ significantly from escitalopram on the primary depression outcome, though secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin without correction for multiple comparisons.

  Synthesized October 19, 2026

• State of the evidence: Psilocybin →No effect

  At week 6, psilocybin did not show a significant difference in antidepressant effect compared with escitalopram; secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin but lacked correction for multiple comparisons.

  Synthesized September 20, 2026

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin for depression, most cited first.