Cancer
December 18, 2023
Manish Agrawal, Yvan Beaussant, Sarah Shnayder et al.
73 citations
A single 25-mg dose of psilocybin, administered alongside one-to-one and group therapeutic support, was safe and feasible for patients with curable and noncurable cancer who also had major depressive disorder. In a phase 2 open-label trial with 30 participants, no serious adverse events or suicidality occurred, and mild side effects like nausea and headache were as expected. Depression severity scores dropped by an average of 19.1 points from baseline to eight weeks after treatment. Eighty percent of participants showed a sustained response, and half achieved full remission of depressive symptoms by week one that lasted for eight weeks. The group-oriented format and compact delivery in a community cancer center may add to therapeutic gains.
Journal of affective disorders
February 15, 2023
Sarah Shnayder, Rezvan Ameli, Ninet Sinaii et al.
67 citations
Psilocybin-assisted therapy improved psycho-social-spiritual well-being in cancer patients with major depressive disorder, as measured by the NIH-HEALS. In a Phase II open-label trial, 30 participants received 25 mg of psilocybin with group preparation and integration sessions. NIH-HEALS scores increased significantly after treatment, with gains in all three factors: Connection (12.7%), Reflection & Introspection (7.7%), and Trust & Acceptance (22.4%). Improvements appeared by day 1 and persisted through 8 weeks. The study lacked a control group, relied on self-reports, and had a small, limited sample, restricting generalizability. The results suggest that Connection, Reflection & Introspection, and Trust & Acceptance are key elements of psycho-social-spiritual healing in this context.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 9, 2024
Terence H W Ching, Lucia Amoroso, Calvin Bohner et al.
9 citations
A randomized controlled trial will test whether two doses of psilocybin (25 mg followed by either 25 or 30 mg), given with non-directive support, reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms more than a single dose or a waitlist control. Thirty adults with treatment-refractory OCD will be enrolled. OCD symptoms will be measured with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Second Edition by a blinded rater at baseline and after the second dosing week. Participants will be followed for up to 12 months. The trial also aims to identify psychological mechanisms that may explain psilocybin's effects on OCD.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
June 1, 2022
Manish Agrawal, Paul Thambi, Sarah Shnayder
3 citations
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, given in a group setting within a cancer center, produced a large and sustained reduction in depression symptoms in cancer patients with major depressive disorder. Over eight weeks, depression scores on the MADRS scale dropped by an average of 19.1 points, 24 of 30 patients achieved a sustained response (at least 50% reduction), and half showed complete remission one week after treatment, maintained through eight weeks. No serious adverse events occurred, and all 30 patients completed the trial. The results suggest that psilocybin therapy is safe, feasible, and effective for this population, and that group treatment may improve scalability.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
June 1, 2023
Manish Agrawal, Sarah Shnayder, Heather Honstein et al.
2 citations
A single dose of psilocybin combined with group and individual psychological support led to long-term relief from depression in cancer patients with major depressive disorder. At 18 months, 64.2% of patients showed a clinical response (at least 50% reduction in depression scores) and 57.1% achieved full remission. Depression and anxiety severity scores continued to decrease from baseline to 8 weeks and through 18 months. The findings suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy may be an effective treatment for depression in people with cancer.
SSRN Electronic Journal
January 1, 2026
Ben Kelemndi, Thomas Adams, Terence H. W. Ching et al.
1 citation
A single dose of psilocybin (0.25 mg/kg) produced rapid, clinically meaningful, and sustained reductions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms among adults with treatment-resistant OCD. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the psilocybin group showed a 9.76-point decrease on the A-YBOCS at 48 hours, compared to a 0.07-point increase in the niacin group. At one week, 69.2% of psilocybin participants achieved a response (≥35% symptom reduction) versus 0% of niacin participants. Benefits persisted through 12 weeks. One serious adverse event (suicidal ideation) occurred; no treatment-related deaths were reported.
February 11, 2026
Sarah Shnayder, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Troy Hubert et al.
preprint
In people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), greater mystical-type experiences during psilocybin sessions—especially feelings of unity, sacredness, and transcendence—were linked to lower OCD symptom severity at 1-week and 12-week follow-ups, even after accounting for baseline severity and treatment condition. The Mystical subscale of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire showed the strongest and most consistent associations. The Space–Time subscale was related to lower OCD severity only at 12 weeks. Positive mood, ineffability, and challenging experiences were not significantly tied to post-treatment OCD severity. These results suggest that the quality of subjective experience during psilocybin sessions may help optimize treatment outcomes.
January 15, 2026
Benjamin Kelmendi, Thomas G. Adams, Terence H. W. Ching et al.
preprint
A single dose of psilocybin (0.25 mg/kg) produced rapid and sustained reductions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms among adults with treatment-resistant OCD. In a randomized, double-blind trial, 28 adults received either psilocybin or niacin (250 mg). At 48 hours, OCD severity scores dropped by about 10 points more in the psilocybin group than in the niacin group, a large effect. At one week, 69% of psilocybin participants achieved a clinically meaningful response, compared with none in the niacin group. Benefits lasted through 12 weeks. One serious adverse event occurred. Open-label psilocybin given later also reduced symptoms. The findings suggest psilocybin may offer a new treatment approach for treatment-resistant OCD, but larger confirmatory trials are needed.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
February 16, 2024
Terence H W Ching, Lucia Amoroso, Calvin Bohner et al.
correction
A correction notice addresses an error in a previously published article on psilocybin therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The notice specifies that the original article's DOI is 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1278823 and provides the necessary correction. No findings, methods, or results are presented in this text.