Psilocybin-based treatment may reduce depressive symptoms and, in some cases, lead to symptom remission among individuals with depression.

Background

The volume of research and interest in assessing the impact of psychedelics such as psilocybin on treating depression has increased significantly in recent years. This review synthesized findings from multiple studies examining the effects of psilocybin use on outcomes for people with depression.

Findings

The review included 12 randomized control trials that evaluated against the outcomes of interest. Individuals in the intervention group who received psilocybin had statistically significant reductions in depression assessment scores, greater responses to treatment, and higher rates of symptom remission compared to the control groups. These effects were observed for several weeks following the study period. This review will be updated as more studies on psilocybin impacts are conducted and published.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Psilocybin is a promising treatment option to reduce symptoms of depression. Providers can use the findings of this study to understand differences between psychedelic and traditional treatment options for depression and other mental health diagnoses. A database from Metapsy includes a repository of additional studies on psilocybin-assisted interventions.