Corrigendum to “Decreases in Suicidality Following Psychedelic Therapy

In a meta-analysis of patient-level data on psychedelics and suicidality, two serious adverse events occurred that the original study authors deemed unrelated to the drug. One participant in a very low-dose psilocybin condition (1 mg/70 kg) completed suicide 11 days after administration, having reported boredom and left the session early. Another participant attempted suicide about two months after an active psilocybin dose (21–25.2 mg/70 kg), following a partner's sudden death and subsequent methamphetamine and crack cocaine use, with a brief psychotic episode. These events highlight the need for close monitoring of all participants during and after psychedelic therapy trials.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To the Editor: Our group recently published in JCP the first meta-analysis of patient-level data on the effects of psychedelics on suicidality. 1 While not described in our article, it is noteworthy that 2 suicidality-related events that had been deemed not attributable to the administration of a psychedelic (by the authors of the primary outcome studies) occurred within the studies included in our meta-analysis.Griffiths et al 2 describe in their supplementary materials that 1 individual in their very low-dose (placebo-like) psilocybin condition completed suicide 11 days after being administered 1 mg/70 kg psilocybin.The individual reported feeling bored during the session and was discontinued from the study after leaving the session early.They also report that there was no behavioral impairment or adverse sequelae during the follow-up later that day or on subsequent days.Andersen et al 3 report that 1 individual attempted suicide approximately 2 months after being administered an active dose of psilocybin (21-25.2mg/70 kg).The suicide attempt occurred after the individual learned about the sudden death of a former partner, subsequently used methamphetamine and crack cocaine, and then experienced a brief psychotic episode.They reported that the actual lethality of the attempt was 0 and the potential lethality was a 2 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.Although these events are likely not attributable to psychedelic therapy itself, they are nonetheless worthy of consideration and suggest the importance of closely monitoring patients in all treatment arms throughout and following psychedelic therapy trials.