Control group improvement lower in psilocybin trials for depression
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update October 10, 2025 DOI: 10.1002/pu.31371 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 17 |
| Population | Participants in randomized trials of depression treatments |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Depression economics Serotonin reuptake inhibitor Randomized controlled trial Clinical trial Depressive symptoms Anesthesia |
| Key findings | Control group improvement rates in depression studies were lower in psilocybin trials than in esketamine or SSRI trials, suggesting psilocybin's efficacy may be overestimated. |
Abstract
A meta‐analysis comprising 17 randomized trials has found that rates of control group improvement in depression studies were lower in psilocybin trials than in studies of esketamine or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The results suggest that psilocybin's overall efficacy in the treatment of depression might be overestimated.