Mental Health Weekly
May 17, 2021
Valerie A. Canady
1 citation
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise for patients with severe, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, potentially advancing toward FDA approval, according to researchers from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. The therapy involves using psychedelic substances in assisted sessions to reduce symptoms and provide relief for chronic PTSD. This innovative approach in mental healthcare could represent a significant therapeutic advancement for psychiatric care, though specific results, sample sizes, or study designs are not detailed in the abstract.
Mental Health Weekly
June 12, 2026
Valerie A. Canady
Reaching remission, not just partial improvement, from major depressive disorder lowers relapse risk and improves daily functioning, but this goal is especially difficult for patients with treatment-resistant depression, where repeated medication failures, comorbid conditions, and lingering symptoms complicate care. Data from the STAR*D trial show that by the third line of treatment, fewer than one in six patients achieved remission.
Mental Health Weekly
June 1, 2026
Valerie A. Canady
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has begun a clinical trial testing MDMA-assisted therapy for severe mental health conditions such as PTSD and alcohol use disorder, according to a May 26 news release. The trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this treatment approach.
Mental Health Weekly
June 1, 2026
Valerie A. Canady
A single dose of psilocybin can rapidly reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder, with improvements appearing within days and lasting for weeks. In a randomized clinical trial, patients who received psilocybin had significantly larger decreases in depression scores than those given an active placebo, meeting the primary endpoint at eight days.
Mental Health Weekly
January 23, 2026
Valerie A. Canady
A RAND survey estimates that millions of U.S. adults now microdose psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, taking sub-perceptual amounts for purposes that differ from full-dose use. The practice has moved from niche online forums into the mainstream.
Mental Health Weekly
January 10, 2025
Valerie A. Canady
In an open-label study of patients with severe treatment-resistant depression, synthetic psilocybin produced significant decreases in depressive symptoms. The treatment also showed significant safety and efficacy for this population.
Mental Health Weekly
June 14, 2024
Valerie A. Canady
The FDA's advisory committee recently voted against approving MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, concluding that the evidence does not demonstrate the drug's effectiveness. The decision has drawn mixed reactions from field members and an advocacy organization focused on promoting safe, equitable access to psychedelic therapies for mental health.
Mental Health Weekly
April 13, 2024
Valerie A. Canady
A leading New York-based organization in psychedelic therapy education is partnering with a biotechnology company to develop an FDA-approved botanical psilocybin drug candidate for an upcoming randomized clinical trial.
Mental Health Weekly
November 13, 2023
Valerie A. Canady
Two national nursing associations have issued a joint statement recognizing that ketamine infusion therapy may benefit patients with psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The statement acknowledges the therapy's increasing use for these conditions.
Mental Health Weekly
September 25, 2023
Valerie A. Canady
A phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that MDMA-assisted therapy reduces symptoms in people with moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment showed improvement across a diverse group of individuals with severe PTSD. The results were published in Nature Medicine.
Mental Health Weekly
June 30, 2023
Valerie A. Canady
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released draft guidance for conducting clinical trials with psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA, acknowledging that designing such studies presents unique challenges. The guidance addresses considerations for the industry to evaluate safety and effectiveness of these substances.
Mental Health Weekly
November 5, 2022
Valerie A. Canady
Nearly two dozen experts have issued a report highlighting the essential role of therapists in psychedelic-assisted therapy, amid a surge of research, media coverage, and investment aimed at gaining FDA approval for drugs like psilocybin. The report emphasizes that the therapeutic context and the therapist's involvement are critical to the process, not merely the drug itself.
Mental Health Weekly
January 14, 2022
Valerie A. Canady
In Pennsylvania, a bill was introduced last fall to create a legal foundation for clinical studies of psilocybin or mushrooms. The legislation would provide funding for clinical trials aimed at treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans and first responders.
Mental Health Weekly
May 28, 2021
Psychedelic drugs, including ketamine, psilocybin, ibogaine, LSD, dimethyltryptamine, and MDMA, are increasingly used to treat mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These substances, derived from plants, mushrooms, or synthetic sources, are considered effective for treatment-resistant depression due to fast-acting and long-lasting effects. The psychedelic drug market is projected to grow from $2 billion in 2019 to $6.8 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.3%, driven by growing acceptance for depression treatment and rising prevalence of mental disorders.
Mental Health Weekly
February 15, 2021
Valerie A. Canady
A recent study suggests that prior use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers note that MDMA is close to being approved as the first psychedelic drug for treating PTSD. The finding indicates that a history of SSRI use could limit the therapeutic benefits of MDMA in this context.
Mental Health Weekly
January 24, 2020
Heidi Bush
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy combines pharmacology and psychotherapy, using substances like LSD and psilocybin under medical supervision to treat mental health disorders such as PTSD and severe depression. This approach is experiencing renewed interest as a treatment option.