Psychiatry research

Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A summary and combined analysis of studies

Updated

Abstract

A large effect size of -0.78 was found in depression severity favoring psilocybin treatment.

  • Thirteen studies with a total of 686 participants were included in the review.
  • The meta-analysis comprised nine studies with 596 participants.
  • Psilocybin therapy is associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms.
  • Risk ratios for response and remission were large and significant in favor of psilocybin.
  • Open-label trials indicated robust decreases in depressive symptoms after psilocybin administration.
  • Further studies are needed to evaluate safety and efficacy as well as to optimize treatment protocols.

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Full Text

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Funding

Competing interests

Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Roger McIntyre has received research grant support from CIHR/GACD/National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Milken Institute; speaker/consultation fees from Lundbeck, Janssen, Alkermes, Neumora Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sage, Biogen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Purdue, Pfizer, Otsuka, Takeda, Neurocrine, Sunovion, Bausch Health, Axsome, Novo Nordisk, Kris, Sanofi, Eisai, Intra-Cellular, NewBridge Pharmaceuticals, Viatris, Abbvie, Atai Life Sciences. Dr. Roger McIntyre is a CEO of Braxia Scientific Corp. Dr. Husain receives research support from the Brain and behavior Research Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), CAMH Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, the PSI Foundation, and the University of Toronto. He has provided consultancy to Mindset Pharma, PsychEd Therapeutics, and Wake Network. Dr. Joshua D Rosenblat has received research grant support from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), Physician Services Inc (PSI) Foundation, Labatt Brain Health Network, Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation (BCDF), Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Academic Scholars Award, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Psychopharmacology, University of Toronto, University Health Network Centre for Mental Health, Joseph M. West Family Memorial Fund and Timeposters Fellowship and industry funding for speaker/consultation/research fees from iGan, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Allergan, Lundbeck, Sunovion and COMPASS. He is the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Braxia Scientific and the medical director of the Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence (Braxia Health). All other co-authors have no conflict of interest to declare
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