Psilocybin for major depressive disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled studies
Frontiers in Psychiatry September 23, 2024 Zhan-Ming Shi, Yu-Ping Ning, Xin-Hu Yang et al. 21 citations
A systematic review of five randomized controlled trials involving 472 adults with major depressive disorder found that psilocybin improved depressive symptoms in three of the five studies and reduced anxiety symptoms in four of the five studies compared to controls. Suicidal ideation improved in only one trial. Discontinuation rates were similar between psilocybin (2–13%) and control groups (4–21%). The most common adverse drug reaction in both groups was headache. The authors conclude that psilocybin is effective for depressive and anxiety symptoms but note that long-term efficacy and safety require further investigation in larger trials.