A living systematic review, meta-analysis and open-data resource of randomized controlled trials of psilocybin treatment for symptoms of depression
S. Parker Singleton, Brooke L. Sevchik, Analiese Lahey, Pim Cuijpers, Mathias Harrer, Megan T. Jones, Sandeep M. Nayak, Eric C. Strain, Simon N. Vandekar, Robert H. Dworkin, J. Cobb Scott, Theodore D. Satterthwaite
Nature Mental Health May 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s44220-026-00630-8 via Springer Nature
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA living systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials (801 participants) found that psilocybin-assisted therapy substantially reduces depressive symptoms compared to control conditions, with a standardized mean difference of −0.90 (Hedges’ g). The analysis included 12 trials (585 participants) in the primary model. Many studies had small sample sizes or risk of bias. The review is maintained as a living resource with an open-data database and online dashboard that will be updated as new evidence emerges.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 801 |
| Population | Participants in randomized controlled trials of psilocybin treatment for depressive symptoms |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin-assisted therapy resulted in a greater reduction in depression scores compared to control conditions, with a Hedges' g of −0.90. |
Abstract
This study presents a living systematic review and open-data meta-analytic database from 15 randomized controlled trials examining the effects of psilocybin treatment on depressive symptoms. Existing evidence suggests that psilocybin treatment alleviates depressive symptoms. Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide, motivating interest in psilocybin as a potential treatment. Here we present a living systematic review and open-data meta-analytic resource on psilocybin treatment for depressive symptoms. In this initial release, 15 randomized controlled trials comprising 801 participants are included in the database, with 12 of those studies included in our primary model ( n = 585) using inverse-variance random-effects modeling of standardized mean differences on primary outcomes. Compared with control conditions, psilocybin showed a greater reduction in depression scores (Hedges’ g = −0.90). This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy results in substantial decreases in depressive symptoms across studies to date. However, many studies have small sample sizes or risk of bias. This living systematic review, meta-analysis, database and online dashboard ( sypres.io ) will continue to be updated as evidence emerges, providing a valuable resource for researchers in a rapidly evolving field.