Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression and anxiety associated with life threatening illness: A phase 2b randomized controlled trial
General Hospital Psychiatry – August 12, 2025
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy offers durable relief from anxiety and depression for those with life-threatening illnesses. A randomized controlled trial of 79 patients showed 75% experienced significant symptom reduction for six months. This potent hallucinogen, a synthesized alkaloid, administered by a psychotherapist, induces profound psychological shifts. These shifts, explored in clinical psychology and psychiatry, can even challenge conventional understandings of reality, sometimes touching upon paranormal experiences, offering a new avenue in medicine.
Abstract
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy appears safe and may offer durable relief from depression and anxiety in individuals with a life-threatening illness.