Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial
Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016 Annie Umbricht, Mary P Cosimano, Roland R. Griffiths et al. 2,174 citations
In cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression or anxiety, a high dose of psilocybin (22 or 30 mg/70 kg) produced large decreases in depressed mood and anxiety, along with increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism, and decreases in death anxiety, compared with a very low placebo-like dose (1 or 3 mg/70 kg). At 6-month follow-up, about 80% of participants continued to show clinically significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety. Participants attributed improvements in attitudes about life, mood, relationships, and spirituality to the high-dose experience, with over 80% endorsing moderately or greater increased well-being or life satisfaction. The mystical-type experience during the session mediated the effect of dose on therapeutic outcomes.