Breaking the chains of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of psilocybin therapy
Journal of Affective Disorders December 17, 2025 Faheem Ahmed Khan, Nuruliarizki Shinta Pandupuspitasari, Tewin Tencomnao et al. 2 citations
Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance from certain mushrooms, shows promise as a treatment for various mental health conditions. This meta-analysis and systematic review evaluated its therapeutic function, finding it reduces symptoms of anxiety and major depressive disorder (standardized mean difference = -1.438) and mood disorders (standardized mean difference = -1.476). The benefits appear linked to psilocybin's regulation of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, improving neuroplasticity and emotional integration. Sustained improvements often occur after a single session. While results are resistant to publication bias, the review highlights the need to address hurdles to clinical adoption and tailor treatments for specific groups.