Psilocybin: From Psychiatric Pariah to Perceived Panacea
Adrienne Grzenda, Gregory A. Fonzo, Aaron Wolfgang, Bryan R. Barksdale, John H. Krystal, Linda L. Carpenter, Nina V. Kraguljac, William M. Mcdonald, Alik S. Widge, Carolyn I. Rodríguez, Charles B. Nemeroff
American Journal of Psychiatry 2025 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230682 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Panacea medicine Pariah group Psychotherapist Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key findings | The evidence is currently insufficient to recommend psilocybin with PST as a psychiatric treatment. |
Abstract
The evidence is currently insufficient to recommend psilocybin with PST as a psychiatric treatment. Additional rigorously designed clinical trials are needed to definitively establish efficacy in larger and more diverse samples, address dosing considerations, improve blinding, and provide information on mechanisms of action and moderators of clinical response. Head-to-head comparisons with other evidence-based treatments will better inform the potential future role of psilocybin with PST in the treatment of major psychiatric disorders.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- The Emergence of Psilocybin in Psychiatry and Neuroscience Pharmaceuticals April 9, 2025
- Pharmacological Monotherapy for Depressive Disorders: Current and Future-A Narrative Review. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) March 21, 2025
- Unequal representation? A cross-sectional analysis of age, sex, race, and ethnicity in clinical trials of classic psychedelics Journal of Psychopharmacology July 11, 2025
- Rapid antidepressant potential of nitrous oxide: current state and major questions. Molecular Psychiatry June 1, 2026
- The Psychological Support Model in Psilocybin Research: Psychotherapy in Disguise? Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice January 14, 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 94
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
and 89 more in the library