A dose of therapy with psilocybin - A meta-analysis of the relationship between the amount of therapy hours and treatment outcomes in psychedelic-assisted therapy
Jennie Hultgren, Matthias H Hafsteinsson, Joel Gruneau Brulin
General Hospital Psychiatry August 5, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2025.07.020 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Meta-analysis Pharmacotherapy Psychotherapist Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | The amount of therapy hours did not influence depressive outcomes in psychedelic-assisted therapy, but this finding should be interpreted with caution due to small sample sizes, heterogeneity, and poor reporting. |
Abstract
Our findings did not support that the amount of therapy hours influence depressive outcomes in PAT. However, this interpretation should be made with caution due to small sample sizes, heterogeneity, and poor reporting of the therapeutic component across studies. Future research should apply greater methodological rigor and standardized reporting of therapy to clarify its role in PAT.
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 |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 686 |
| 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 |