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Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

April 26, 2021 DOI: 10.64239/pi-qt2602 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial
Population Patients with major depression
Intervention Psilocybin
Topics Depression Psilocybin
Key findings Psilocybin was superior to a delayed-treatment control group with an effect size over 2.

Abstract

In patients with major depression, psilocybin was superior to a delayed-treatment control group with an effect size over 2 (relative effect sizes: 0.2 small, 0.5 medium, 1.0 large; antidepressants, on average, are 0.3). Who were these patients? Are they like yours?

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

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