Trial of psilocybin does not show major difference from antidepressant
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update – July 05, 2021
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A 6-week study revealed no significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and the established medicine escitalopram for moderate to severe depression. This pharmacology research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, contributes to ongoing psychedelics and drug studies in psychiatry. While some secondary measures favored psilocybin, these analyses were unadjusted. Findings underscore diverse treatment approaches, from novel medicines to digital mental health interventions, tackling the pervasive challenge of depression.
Abstract
A 6‐week study comparing the psychedelic psilocybin with the antidepressant escitalopram found no significant difference in antidepressant effects in patients with moderate to severe depression. Some secondary outcome measures favored psilocybin, but those analyses were not adjusted for multiple comparisons. Study results were published in the April 15, 2021 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine .