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.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
July 12, 2022
Kwonmok Ko, Gemma Knight, James Rucker et al.
296 citations
Mystical experience—characterized by oceanic boundlessness, ego dissolution, and universal interconnectedness—may be a psychological mechanism influencing outcomes in psychedelic therapy. A review of 12 studies using psilocybin, ayahuasca, or ketamine found that 10 reported a significant association (correlation, mediation, or prediction) between mystical experience and symptom reduction across cancer-related distress, substance use disorder, and depressive disorders including treatment-resistant depression. However, most studies had small, non-diverse samples, and half were open-label, introducing potential bias. Future research needs larger, more diverse randomized designs and deeper exploration of mystical experience's nature and predictors to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing anxiety.
Depression and Anxiety
July 5, 2020
N. Weston, Damian Gibbs, Catherine Bird et al.
38 citations
A systematic review of literature from 1940 to 2000 examined the combined use of psychological therapies and psychedelic drugs for treating ICD-10 anxiety disorders. Twenty studies were included in the final analysis. Three studies reported improvements in anxiety on standardized measures, with two finding a dose-related effect. Among 145 cases of psychoneurotic anxiety reaction, 94 (65%) showed improvement ranging from moderate to full recovery. The majority of studies indicated that combining psychedelic drug administration with psychological therapy was most beneficial; no study suggested that the drug alone was sufficient.
BMJ Open
December 1, 2021
James Rucker, Hassan Jafari, Tim Mantingh et al.
23 citations
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial is testing the feasibility of psilocybin-assisted therapy for people with major depressive disorder who have not responded to at least two prior treatments. Up to 60 participants in London, UK receive either 25 mg psilocybin or a placebo in a single dosing session, along with psychological therapy. The primary outcomes are recruitment rates, dropout rates, and variance in depression scores measured by the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale at 3 and 6 weeks. The trial also collects neuroimaging and omics data and offers an open-label extension dose of psilocybin.