A meta-analysis of six randomized, double-blind clinical trials involving 528 participants (about 51% female, median age 39.8 years) found that therapeutic single doses of psilocybin for depression and anxiety are associated with several acute adverse effects. Compared to placebo or low-dose psilocybin, psilocybin significantly increased the risk of headache (nearly double), nausea (nearly nine times), anxiety (more than double), dizziness (nearly six times), and elevated blood pressure (more than double). Psilocybin was not linked to paranoia or transient thought disorder. The adverse effects were tolerable and resolved within 48 hours, but the authors call for future studies to better manage these effects.
Among 161 pharmacy students at a southern U.S. school, 75% believed psilocybin should be decriminalized for therapeutic use, but only 34% supported recreational decriminalization. A regression model explained 57% of the variance in students' attitudes: more self-assessed knowledge, less concern about negative effects, and stronger support for both therapeutic and recreational decriminalization predicted more positive views on medical psilocybin. The average age was 24; 12% had used psilocybin recreationally and 1% therapeutically. Students reported minimal training on psilocybin and a desire to learn more, suggesting that attitudes may be shaped by knowledge gaps, safety concerns, and legalization opinions.