Psychedelics for major depression-From controlled research settings into broader clinical use.
Cell Reports Medicine September 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102361 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Psychedelic compounds Entheogens Major depression Mood disorder Therapy Treatment Novel therapies Clinical use Therapeutic options Symptom alleviation Clinical research Studies Trials |
| Key findings | Psychedelics show antidepressant effects in phase 2 trials, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. |
Abstract
Psychedelics have shown promising antidepressant effects in recent phase 2 randomized controlled trials, with phase 3 studies underway. While therapeutic outcomes are encouraging, the underlying mechanisms—from receptor-level pharmacology to subjective experience and context—remain only partially understood. We highlight clinical and mechanistic advances and outline priorities for future research. Psychedelics have shown promising antidepressant effects in recent phase 2 randomized controlled trials, with phase 3 studies underway. While therapeutic outcomes are encouraging, the underlying mechanisms—from receptor-level pharmacology to subjective experience and context—remain only partially understood. We highlight clinical and mechanistic advances and outline priorities for future research.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synaptic Dysfunction in Depression: Potential Therapeutic Targets | 2012 | Review | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse | 2003 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder JAMA August 31, 2023
- Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB Nature Neuroscience June 1, 2023
and 9 more in the library