From trial to clinic: psilocybin’s efficacy in routine treatment-resistant depression
The Lancet Regional Health - Europe July 15, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101780 via OpenAlex
Summary
It remains unclear whether the strong antidepressant effects of psilocybin seen in clinical trials can be replicated in routine care, because trials enroll highly selected patients, withdraw other medications, and follow strict protocols. Jungwirth et al. provide early evidence from everyday practice: among 19 adults with treatment-resistant depression treated with psilocybin under Switzerland's limited medical use framework, clinician-rated depressive symptoms decreased substantially—a reduction of about 11 points on the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, with a large effect size (Hedges' g ≈ 1.4).
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 19 |
| Population | Adults with treatment-resistant depression |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Depression economics Clinical trial Medline Disease Population |
| Key finding | Among 19 adults with treatment-resistant depression treated with psilocybin in routine clinical practice, clinician-rated depressive symptoms decreased substantially, with a Montgomery–Åsberg reduction of approximately 11 points and Hedges' g ≈ 1.4. |
Abstract
The question of whether the striking antidepressant effects of psilocybin reported in randomised trials can be reproduced in everyday care remains largely unanswered. This is because those trials enrol highly selected patients, withdraw concomitant medication and deliver treatment under tightly standardised protocols. In this issue, Jungwirth et al. provide one of the first responses from routine clinical practice.1 Among 19 adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who were treated with psilocybin under Switzerland’s limited medical use framework, clinician-rated symptoms decreased substantially (a Montgomery–Åsberg reduction of approximately 11 points; Hedges’ g ≈ 1.4).