Psilocybin's potential to treat mental health disorders: how it works, effectiveness, and medical uses
Updated
Abstract
Psilocybin may lead to rapid but variable reductions in depressive symptoms according to early-phase clinical trials.
- Some studies report sustained effects on depressive symptoms following psilocybin treatment.
- Preliminary benefits have been observed in reducing anxiety related to life-threatening illness.
- Psilocybin may help decrease substance use, including alcohol and tobacco dependence.
- Limited evidence suggests potential therapeutic effects for obsessive-compulsive disorder and other psychiatric conditions.
- Adverse events are generally mild and transient, but notable reactions have occurred in larger trials.
- Psilocybin may influence brain circuits involved in emotion and cognition, especially when combined with therapy.
Simplified
Funding
Competing interests
Dr. Jha has received contract research grants from Acadia Pharmaceuticals; Neurocrine Bioscience; Navitor/Supernus; and Janssen Research & Development; honorarium to serve as Section Editor of the Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network and as Guest Editor for Psychiatric Clinics of North America (from Elsevier); consultant fees from Eleusis Therapeutics US, Inc; Janssen Global Services; Janssen Scientific Affairs; Boehringer Ingelheim; AbbVie; Definium (MindMed); Sanofi; and Guidepoint Global; fees to serve on Data Safety and Monitoring Board for Worldwide Clinical Trials (Eliem, Skye, and Inversargo), Vicore Pharma, and IQVIA (Click); and honoraria for educational presentations from North American Center for Continuing Medical Education; Medscape/WebMD; Clinical Care Options; Soterix Medical Inc.; Physicians’ Education Resource; Efficient CME; H.C. Wainwright & Co.; and Global Medical Education. Dr. Bhat reports being supported by an Academic Scholar Award from the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry and receiving research support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation; the Ontario Ministry of Health; the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; the Canada Department of National Defence; the New Frontiers in Research Fund; AMS Healthcare; the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Roche Canada; Novartis Canada; and Eisai Co., Ltd. Dr. Meshkat reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
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