Return of the psychedelics: Psilocybin for treatment resistant depression.
Suravi Patra
Asian Journal of Psychiatry December 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2016.08.010 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Clinical population with treatment-resistant depression |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin |
| Key findings | The trial's findings validate psilocybin's efficacy in treatment-resistant depression, consistent with prior electrophysiologic, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological evidence. The authors discuss mechanism of action and ethical issues, emphasizing relative safety and absence of addiction potential. |
Abstract
Psilocybin, the clinically most researched classic psychedelic has recently been tested for its safety and efficacy in a clinical population of treatment resistant depression. The efficacy of psilocybin in clinical depression previously demonstrated in the elecrophysiologic and neuroimaging findings as also in neuropsychological assessments is further validated by the findings of this rigorously conducted randomized trial. Mechanism of action of psilocybin and efficacy in treatment resistant depression are discussed in this paper. Ethical issues of conducting clinical trials with psychedelics are also discussed with particular emphasis on their relative safety and absence of addiction potential. Implications of these issues for conduct of larger trials for establishing risk benefit ratio in treatment resistant depression are further suggested.
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 22
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
- Molecular Mechanisms of Psilocybin and Implications for the Treatment of Depression CNS Drugs November 17, 2021
- The Use of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders with Attention to Relative Safety Profile: A Systematic Review Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 28, 2022
- Analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Medicine: A Narrative Review Cureus February 5, 2022
- Convergent evolution of psilocybin biosynthesis by psychedelic mushrooms bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) July 25, 2018
and 17 more in the library
Cites 7
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2015
- Psilocybin – Summary of knowledge and new perspectives European Neuropsychopharmacology December 17, 2013
- Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. The Lancet Psychiatry April 5, 2016
and 2 more in the library