International journal of psychiatry in medicineApr 25, 2025

Psilocybin-assisted therapy as a fast treatment for depression and anxiety linked to cancer: Evidence from a combined study analysis

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 14, 2026

Abstract

Psilocybin significantly reduced Beck Depression Inventory scores by 2.26 points at day 1 post-administration in cancer patients.

Significant reductions in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) state scores were observed at day 1 (MD = 11.52) and at 2 weeks (MD = 12.66).
Both STAI trait scores showed improvements at day 1 and day 14 following psilocybin administration.
The highest dose of psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) demonstrated the greatest effectiveness, with SUCRA values indicating high efficacy for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms.
While immediate effects on depression and anxiety symptoms were noted, they were not sustained at the 2-week follow-up.
Methodological limitations, including a small number of trials, suggest that findings should be interpreted with caution.

Simplified

ObjectiveTo evaluate psilocybin's efficacy in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsThis systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) followed PRISMA and Cochrane Handbook guidelines. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library data up to July 2024 were analyzed. Two RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Changes in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores were assessed on day 1 and on 2-week follow-up. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0.ResultsPsilocybin significantly reduced BDI scores at day 1 post-administration (MD = 2.26;= 0.01), though effects were not sustained at 2 weeks. STAI state scores showed substantial reductions at both day 1 (MD = 11.52;< 0.001) and 2 weeks (MD = 12.66;< 0.001). STAI trait scores also improved on both day 1 and day 14. The highest psilocybin dose (0.3 mg/kg) was the most effective, with SUCRA values of 87.81% (BDI), 91.58% (STAI state), and 94.2% (STAI trait).ConclusionsFindings suggest psilocybin may rapidly reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients, but methodological limitations, including the small number of trials, necessitate cautious interpretation. Larger, high-quality RCTs are needed to verify its clinical potential. P P P

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Competing interests

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Damian Swieczkowski: No conflict of interest. Aleksander Kwaśny: i) grants: Beckley Psytech, GH Research, MSD. Zuzanna Gaca: No conflict of interest. Michal Pruc: No conflict of interest. Lukasz Szarpak: No conflict of interest. Wiesław J. Cubała: i) grants: Acadia, Alkermes, Allergan, Angelini, Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Beckley Psytech, BMS, Celon, Cephalon, Cortexyme, Ferrier, Forest Laboratories, Gedeon Richter, GH Research, GWPharmaceuticals, HMNC Brain Health, IntraCellular Therapies, Janssen, KCR, Lilly, Lundbeck, Minerva, MSD, Neumora, NIH, Novartis, Orion, Otsuka, Recognify Life Sciences, Sanofi, Servier; ii) honoraria: Adamed, Angelini, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celon, GH Research, GSK, Janssen, KRKA, Lekam, Lundbeck, Minerva, NeuroCog, Novartis, Orion, Pfizer, Polfa Tarchomin, Sanofi, Servier, Zentiva; iii) advisory boards: Angelini, Celon (terminated), Douglas Pharmaceuticals, GH Research, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi.

PubMed

Psilocybin-assisted therapy as a fast treatment for depression and anxiety linked to cancer: Evidence from a combined study analysis

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

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