Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin and Ketamine in Major Depressive Disorder including Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Narrative Review
Christian S. Skowron, Urszula Miłkowska, Gabriela Maria Piech, Igor Lis, Piotr Franciszek Kurzyna
Biuletyn Głównej Biblioteki Lekarskiej June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.2478/bgbl-2025-0011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | MDD/TRD patients |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Ketamine |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Psilocybin Esketamine |
| Keywords | Depression economics Psychotherapist Narrative Depressive symptoms Hallucinogen Clinical psychology Cognition Literature |
| Key findings | Psilocybin and ketamine represent a paradigm shift in depression treatment, offering rapid and sustained antidepressant effects through distinct mechanisms, with psilocybin showing 54-71% response rates in MDD and ketamine reducing suicidal ideation within hours. |
Abstract
Abstract Major depressive disorder (MDD), including treatment-resistant depression (TRD), represents significant global health challenges with conventional therapies often yielding suboptimal outcomes. This narrative review examines the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and ketamine, two novel agents offering distinct mechanisms of action compared to traditional monoamine-based or monoamine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. Psilocybin, a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, induces rapid and sustained antidepressant effects with some clinical trials demonstrating response rates of 54-71% in MDD. Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, exerts rapid antidepressant effects via glutamatergic signalling pathways, showing particular efficacy in reducing suicidal ideation within hours. While psilocybin requires structured psychotherapeutic support during its acute psychedelic effects, ketamine offers flexible administration routes (intranasal, intravenous, subcutaneous), some of which can be applied immediately in an emergency setting. Safety profiles for both compounds are favourable in controlled settings with transient adverse effects such as dissociation or nausea. However, current research faces limitations including small sample sizes, blinding challenges, and heterogeneity in trial design and therapeutic protocols. Despite these constraints, psilocybin and ketamine represent a paradigm shift in depression treatment. Future directions require large-scale trials, standardized protocols and long-term safety assessments to optimize their integration into clinical practice. These agents hold promise for reshaping therapeutic approaches to MDD, particularly for patients unresponsive to conventional therapies (TRD).