Psilocybin shows mixed results for patients with treatment‐resistant depression
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update July 1, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1002/pu.31461
Summary
Patients with treatment-resistant depression who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy experienced clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms compared to those receiving a placebo. However, there was no significant effect on the primary outcome of treatment response measured 6 weeks after the first dose of psilocybin.
Study at a glance
| Design | Phase 2b trial |
|---|---|
| Population | patients with treatment-resistant depression |
| Key finding | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy led to meaningful improvements in depressive symptoms compared to placebo. |
Abstract
Patients with treatment‐resistant depression who received psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy showed clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms relative to placebo, a Phase 2b trial has found. However, the study did not show a significant effect on the primary outcome of treatment response 6 weeks after the first of two doses of psilocybin. Study results were published online March 18, 2026 in JAMA Psychiatry .