Is psilocybin an effective antidepressant and what is its Mechanism of action?
Cell Reports Medicine 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100906 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People with medication-resistant depression |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Dose | 25 mg |
| Duration | Short-term |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Mental health |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin has a short-term antidepressant effect in medication-resistant depression. |
Abstract
Goodwin et al.1 report a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin has an antidepressant effect short-term in medication-resistant depression. Unanswered questions include drug blood level as a guide to dose, psychedelic effects relationship to antidepressant benefit, and potential suicide risk of psilocybin.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin for depression, 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 |
| 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 |
| Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2022 | Phase 2 double-blind randomized controlled trial | n = 233 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Psychedelics for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: Interpreting and Translating Available Evidence and Guidance for Future Research. American Journal of Psychiatry 2025
- Synergistic psychedelic - NMDAR modulator treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. Molecular Psychiatry 2024
- Engaging Mood Brain Circuits with Psilocybin (EMBRACE): a study protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled and delayed-start, neuroimaging trial in depression. Trials July 3, 2024
- Synergistic behavioral and neuroplastic effects of psilocybin-NMDAR modulator administration Translational Psychiatry June 13, 2025
- Engaging Mood Brain Circuits with Psilocybin (EMBRACE): a study protocol for a randomized, proof-of-principle, placebo-controlled and crossover, neuroimaging trial in depression Research Square December 28, 2023
and 1 more in the library
Cites 6
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Neuropsychopharmacology January 26, 2019
- Ketamine for rapid reduction of suicidal thoughts in major depression: a midazolam-controlled randomized clinical trial American Journal of Psychiatry December 5, 2017
- Assessment of Relationship of Ketamine Dose With Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Glx and GABA Responses in Adults With Major Depression JAMA Network Open August 12, 2020
and 1 more in the library