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Study: Psilocybin enhances therapy in patients with major depression

The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update January 7, 2021 DOI: 10.1002/pu.30675 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized open-label trial Peer reviewed
Population Patients with major depressive disorder
Intervention Psilocybin
Topics Anxiety Depression Psilocybin
Keywords Depression economics Antidepressant Hallucinogen Randomized controlled trial Psychotherapist Cognition
Key findings Two administrations of psilocybin as part of a psychotherapy regimen led to rapid and lasting improvement in depression symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder.

Abstract

Patients with major depressive disorder who received two administrations of the psychedelic psilocybin as part of a psychotherapy regimen saw a rapid and lasting improvement in depression symptoms, a randomized open‐label trial has found. These findings extend results of research that have suggested antidepressant effects for psilocybin in patients with cancer and treatment‐resistant depression, the researchers stated. Study results were published online Nov. 4, 2020, in JAMA Psychiatry .

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin for anxiety, 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
Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Adults with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety 2010 Double-blind, placebo-controlled study n = 12
Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies Healthy human subjects 2010 Pooled analysis of double-blind placebo-controlled experimental studies n = 110

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