Role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology October 27, 2016 DOI: 10.1177/2045125316676092 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety LSD Psilocybin Depression |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Mood Recreational drug Global population Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin does not lead to serious physical or mental health problems or dependent use and is being explored for therapeutic utility in mood and anxiety disorders. |
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid, pharmacologically similar to the classic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although primarily used as a recreational drug or an entheogen in particular cultural settings, recent population based studies have shown that it does not lead to serious physical or mental health problems or dependent use. In view of recent work demonstrating psilocybin’s potential to increase subjective sense of wellbeing and because of its novel mechanism of 5-HT 2A serotonin receptor agonism, it is being explored for possible therapeutic utility in mood and anxiety disorders.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Registered clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating psychedelics for... | 2021 | Review | n = 70 |
| Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness. Palliative care clinicians and patients | 2022 | Review | |
| Serotonergic psychedelics for depression: What do we know about neurobiological mechanisms of action? | 2023 | Narrative review | |
| Psilocybin in Treatment-Resistant Depression Adults with major depressive disorder | 2022 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 25
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin Molecules May 15, 2021
- Enzymatic Synthesis of Psilocybin Angewandte Chemie International Edition August 1, 2017
- Molecular Mechanisms of Psilocybin and Implications for the Treatment of Depression CNS Drugs November 17, 2021
- Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration Frontiers in Psychiatry December 1, 2022
and 20 more in the library
Cites 16
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 23, 2012
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later Journal of Psychopharmacology May 30, 2008
and 11 more in the library