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Single dose of psilocybin improves depressive symptoms in Phase 2 study

The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update October 30, 2023 DOI: 10.1002/pu.31093 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Phase 2 randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Population Patients with major depressive disorder
Intervention Psilocybin
Dose 25 mg
Topics Anxiety Depression Psilocybin
Keywords Adverse effect Placebo Depressive symptoms Hallucinogen Depression economics Pharmacology Cognition Alternative medicine
Key findings A single 25-mg dose of psilocybin with psychological support led to significant and sustained improvement in depressive symptoms compared to placebo.

Abstract

A single 25‐mg dose of psilocybin administered with psychological support led to significant and sustained improvement in depressive symptoms compared with placebo in a Phase 2 study of patients with major depressive disorder. A higher number of adverse events occurred in the psilocybin group, but no serious treatment‐emergent adverse events were reported. Study results were published online Aug. 31, 2023, in JAMA .

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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