The role of psilocybin in depressive disorders
Current Medical Research and Opinion – August 23, 2024
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers rapid and lasting antidepressant effects for those battling Major depressive disorder. Reviews across Psychiatry and Clinical psychology highlight its promise in Medicine, particularly for treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. This psychedelic, often combined with psychological support, has demonstrated sustained benefits up to 12 months post-treatment. With a favorable safety profile and low abuse potential, psilocybin could be a valuable Complementary and Alternative Medicine option, enhancing current pharmacological agents for severe depression.
Abstract
Depression is a serious psychiatric disorder with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality and psilocybin with psychotherapy has emerged as a promising potential in the treatment of depressive disorders. A review of psilocybin use in patients with depressive disorders is presented.A search was conducted investigating the use of psilocybin in patients with depressive disorders and treatment resistant depression via PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar in October 2023; all publication types were permitted and limited for English-language. Keyword search terms included: "psilocybin" or "psychedelics" and "depression", or "major depressive disorder", or "treatment-resistant depression". Controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials utilizing psilocybin with psychological support for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, as well as in patients with depression and cancer related anxiety have demonstrated immediate and sustained antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Psilocybin has a favorable safety profile and was well-tolerated in clinical trials. Psilocybin's abuse potential is low and clinical research suggests the potential of psilocybin to produce rapid and lasting antidepressant effects up to 12 months post-treatment. Psilocybin may offer a valuable contribution as an option to the currently available pharmacological and psychotherapeutic agents for patients with major depressive disorders, treatment-resistant depression as well as for patients with depression and comorbid terminal cancer. Future studies are needed to demonstrate these findings and any synergistic interaction between psilocybin and the psychological support offered to patients during sessions.