Psilocybin increases emotional empathy in patients with major depression.
Molecular psychiatry June 1, 2025 J Jungwirth, R von Rotz, I Dziobek et al. 19 citations
Empathy is important for relationships and mental health but is often reduced in depression. Psilocybin, a potential depression treatment, acutely boosts emotional empathy in healthy people, but its effect in depressed patients was unknown. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 51 depressed patients received either a single psilocybin dose (0.215 mg/kg) or placebo, alongside 4 weeks of psychological support. Empathy was tested at baseline and up to 2 weeks later. Psilocybin significantly improved explicit emotional empathy, especially toward positive stimuli, for at least two weeks. The findings suggest psychedelics may enhance social cognition in depression, though more research is needed on its link to clinical improvement.