Psychiatry research
February 1, 2025
Damian Swieczkowski, Aleksander Kwaśny, Michal Pruc et al.
17 citations
In patients with Major Depressive Disorder, psilocybin reduces depression symptoms more than placebo by Day 8 and Day 15 after treatment, but not by Day 2. A 25 mg dose is the most effective among those tested (0.215 mg/kg, 10 mg, and 25 mg). Psilocybin carries a higher risk of adverse events, especially nausea. These findings come from a meta-analysis of three randomized placebo-controlled trials involving 389 adults.
Asian journal of psychiatry
June 1, 2024
Adam Włodarczyk, Jakub Słupski, Joanna Szarmach et al.
12 citations
A year-long follow-up of three adults with treatment-resistant depression who received a single intravenous dose of arketamine (R-ketamine) found substantial symptom reduction and improved social and vocational functioning, including reduced sick leave and hospitalizations. One participant developed a substance use disorder, highlighting the need for careful monitoring. The findings suggest arketamine may offer a transformative approach to managing depression, with fewer dissociative side effects and lower abuse potential than esketamine, but the small sample size and lack of randomization require cautious interpretation.
Molecular neurobiology
February 5, 2026
Zofia Winczewska, Wiesław J Cubała, Piotr Radziwiłłowicz et al.
5 citations
Oxidative stress (OS) is increasingly recognized not only as a factor in depressive disorders but also as a potential biomarker for the severity and persistence of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This review synthesizes current evidence linking OS to TRD's chronicity and symptom persistence, suggesting that OS severity may indicate treatment resistance. The authors discuss fast-acting antidepressants and a non-pharmacological nutraceutical approach aimed at reducing OS as a way to fill a therapeutic gap and improve recovery chances. An integrated strategy to lower OS may help overcome treatment resistance in severe TRD, modifying disease course and improving prognosis.
The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
April 25, 2025
Damian Swieczkowski, Aleksander Kwaśny, Michal Pruc et al.
4 citations
Psilocybin rapidly reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients, though the effect on depression was not sustained at two weeks. Based on two randomized controlled trials, a network meta-analysis found that Beck Depression Inventory scores improved one day after administration but not at follow-up. State anxiety scores showed substantial reductions both at one day and two weeks; trait anxiety scores also improved at both time points. The highest dose tested (0.3 mg/kg) was the most effective. The small number of trials limits confidence in the findings, and larger, high-quality studies are needed.
Psychopharmacology bulletin
June 5, 2026
Michael E Thase, Brian Brennan, Rachael Macisaac et al.
In patients with treatment-resistant depression, a single-day individualized dosing regimen of inhaled GH001 (synthetic mebufotenin) produced rapid and large improvements in depressive symptoms compared with placebo in a Phase 2b trial, with 57.5% achieving remission at Day 8 versus 0% on placebo. A post hoc analysis of 40 patients who received GH001 found no meaningful correlation between the number of prior lifetime antidepressant treatment failures and improvement on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale at Day 8 or among 6-month open-label extension completers. Remission rates at Day 8 were similar across subgroups with 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more prior failures (range 53.9%-63.6%) and were maintained at Month 6 (range 61.5%-85.7%). The efficacy of GH001 appears largely independent of how many prior antidepressant treatments a patient has tried.