The effects of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram on cognitive bias: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
medRxiv March 21, 2025 Jessica S. Henry, Bruna Giribaldi, David Nutt et al. 2 citations preprint
In a randomized controlled trial of 59 patients with major depressive disorder, two high-dose psilocybin therapy sessions produced large increases in optimism and improvements in dysfunctional attitudes related to achievement, dependency, and self-control after six weeks. By contrast, a six-week daily course of escitalopram produced no change in optimism and only improved dysfunctional attitudes in the achievement domain. Psilocybin therapy was superior to escitalopram in remediating negative cognitive biases in depression.