Psilocybin shows rapid relief for depression symptoms
Mental Health Weekly June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/mhw.34890 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People with major depressive disorder |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin |
| Key findings | Patients receiving psilocybin experienced significantly larger reductions in depression scores compared with those given an active placebo at eight days. |
Abstract
A single dose of psilocybin may provide rapid relief for people with major depressive disorder (MDD), with benefits emerging within days and lasting for several weeks, according to a randomized clinical trial published May 15 in JAMA Network Open . Researchers of the study, “Short‐Term and Late‐Term Effects of Psilocybin on Symptoms in Major Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” found that patients receiving psilocybin experienced significantly larger reductions in depression scores compared with those given an active placebo, meeting the study's primary endpoint at eight days.