Department of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Pagni, Zeifman, Mennenga, Carrithers, Goldway, O'Donnell, Ross, Bogenschutz); School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe (Mennenga); Department of Psychology, New York University, New York (Goldway); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque (Bhatt).
2 papers in the library · 1,723 citations · publishing 2016-2022
A single moderate dose of psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg), combined with psychotherapy, produced immediate and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression among 29 patients with cancer-related psychological distress. At the 6.5-month follow-up, approximately 60–80% of participants continued to show clinically significant reductions in depression or anxiety. Psilocybin also decreased demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, quality of life, and attitudes toward death. The therapeutic effects on anxiety and depression were mediated by the psilocybin-induced mystical experience.
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin may help people change their behavior in substance use disorders. This paper describes the protocol for a multi-site, double-blind, randomized controlled trial that tested psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in 96 alcohol-dependent volunteers. Participants received either psilocybin or an active placebo (diphenhydramine) during two dosing sessions, alongside a structured 12-week psychotherapy platform. The primary outcome was the proportion of heavy drinking days over 32 weeks after the first dose. Secondary outcomes included safety, abstinence, craving, and self-efficacy. The primary results are reported elsewhere; this paper focuses on the rationale and design decisions.