Reappraisal of the hype and hope offered by psilocybin treatment of depression
New Zealand Medical Journal September 15, 2025 Ben Beaglehole, Jenni Manuel
Psilocybin treatment for depression shows early promise, but expectation bias and functional unblinding likely influence positive results. Side effects are often not systematically reported, and some recipients may experience harm. Compared to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, the evidence for psilocybin is weaker; ketamine has stronger support in treatment-resistant groups. The authors conclude that current evidence does not justify wider availability or use of psilocybin for depression.