Psilocybin: a psychedelic alternative to antidepressants?
Pharmaceutical journal/The pharmaceutical journal 2022 DOI: 10.1211/pj.2022.1.169269 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People with treatment-resistant depression |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Dose | 25 mg |
| Duration | 12-week follow-up |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Pharmacology |
| Key findings | A single 25mg dose of psilocybin with psychological support improved symptoms of treatment-resistant depression for up to 12 weeks. |
Abstract
In November 2022, the largest trial to date of the psychedelic drug, psilocybin, showed that — alongside psychological support — a single 25mg dose could improve the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression for up to 12 weeks. Previous studies have suggested an antidepressant mechanism for psilocybin therapy and have shown that psilocybin is at least as […]
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety | 2016 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 51 |
| Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression | 2016 | Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial | n = 29 |
| Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Hallucinogen-naïve adults reporting regular participation in religious or spiritual... | 2006 | Double-blind study | n = 36 |
| Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression Selected group of patients with depression | 2021 | Randomized controlled trial | |
| Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder Adults aged 21 to 75 years with major depressive disorder, not currently using... | 2020 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 24 |