The New England journal of medicine
November 3, 2022
Guy M Goodwin, Scott T Aaronson, Oscar Alvarez et al.
1,095 citations
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, but not 10 mg, reduced depression scores more than a 1 mg control dose over three weeks in adults with treatment-resistant depression. In this phase 2 trial, 233 participants were randomly assigned to 25 mg, 10 mg, or 1 mg of synthetic psilocybin with psychological support. The 25 mg group showed an average 12-point drop on the MADRS depression scale versus a 5.4-point drop in the 1 mg group, a significant difference. The 10 mg group did not differ significantly from control. Response and remission rates at three weeks supported the primary result, but sustained response at 12 weeks was not significantly different.
Npj Ment Health Res
July 2, 2024
Ronit Kishon, Nadav Liam Modlin, Yael M. Cycowicz et al.
22 citations
Before psychedelics were prohibited, clinical research with complex psychiatric patients developed diverse treatment methods and practices that remain relevant today. These early studies, though lacking modern rigor, recognized that the treatment context and clinician's role are essential for positive outcomes. This review examines pre-prohibition clinical narratives about the phenomenology of psychedelic treatment and non-pharmacological factors in patient experience. It also explores clinician perspectives and psychological interventions from that era to inform future research directions and best practice guidelines for modern psychedelic research and clinician training.
Front Psychiatry
September 1, 2025
Ronit Kishon, Yael M. Cycowicz
Psychedelic therapy, which uses compounds like psilocybin to treat psychiatric disorders, works through serotonergic modulation and 5-HT2A receptor activation, inducing neuroplasticity and altered consciousness. Its therapeutic potential extends beyond biochemical effects, as structured therapy—including preparation, administration, and integration—produces enduring changes in self-perception, emotion regulation, and interpersonal connectedness. This paper argues that psychedelics offer a fundamentally different therapeutic model requiring a reconceptualization of mental health treatment, integrating neuroscientific findings with phenomenological insights. Further research is needed to refine protocols and understand the link between subjective experiences and outcomes.