Recently, psilocybin has been used along with psychological support to treat Major Depressive Disorder. Research published in JAMA in August 2023 showed that psilocybin 25 mg with psychological support was more effective than placebo (nicotine 100 mg) and psychological support in treating depression in adults (age 21-65).
Improvement was shown at 8 weeks and improvement was sustained until at least day 43. All patients in the study had at least a moderate degree of depression.
To be chosen to participate in the study, patients were not allowed to have taken an antidepressant for 2 weeks or longer, had no suicidal thoughts, no substance use, and no family history of psychosis.
Other studies have supported the use of psilocybin with psychological support to treat Major Depressive Disorder. In Germany, psychiatrists with appropriate training and psychotherapy skills can treat depressed patients with psilocybin.
Australia recently has approved the use of psilocybin for treating depression. They also approved it for use in patients with PTSD.
Now, it appears that it may be a helpful treatment for depression and other mental disorders, e.g., PTSD. It is not intended to be used alone but only along with psychological therapy.
Psilocybin is a psychedelic derived from psilocybe mushrooms. It affects multiple types of serotonin receptors. Many standard antidepressants increase the availability of serotonin.
Psilocybin can affect all of the senses and can cause hallucinations. It has been used as a street drug for many years.
Stay tuned.
Blog partially based on research by Raison CC et al. Single-dose psilocybin treatment for major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2023 Aug 31, 2023; e2314530.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
