[Are psychedelics fast acting antidepressant agents?].
Der Nervenarzt March 1, 2022 Gerhard Gründer, Manuela Brand, Laura Kärtner et al.
Psychedelics like psilocybin are among the most promising new treatments for depression, potentially working within one day. A review of clinical studies from before the 1960s prohibition and after the 2000s revival—mostly using psilocybin—shows small sample sizes (total depressed patients <200) and some methodological weaknesses. Nevertheless, the evidence suggests a pronounced, very rapid antidepressant effect within one day for depression, treatment-resistant depression, and depression in life-threatening cancer, often lasting several months. Ongoing studies with hundreds of patients will clarify psilocybin's potential.