Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
January 24, 2026
Omer A. Syed, Benjamin Tsang, Sean M. Nestor et al.
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows a large and significant antidepressant effect in treating major depressive disorder, based on a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials involving 522 participants. Larger effects were associated with bodyweight-adjusted dosing, longer preparation, dosing, and integration sessions, and non-manualized psychotherapy, though subgroup differences were not statistically significant. The review provides preliminary guidance for clinicians designing PAT protocols.
European Psychiatry
January 1, 2026
Shakila Meshkat, Qiaowei Lin, Rachel Sousa-Ho et al.
Control groups in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy trials show substantial symptom improvement, likely due to non-specific factors such as expectancy and concurrent psychotherapy. A meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials (643 participants) found that treatment groups had greater symptom reductions than control groups for depressive symptoms, PTSD symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. For PTSD, inactive placebo groups showed larger within-group improvements. The findings underscore the need for robust control conditions and careful interpretation of treatment effects in psychedelic research.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
October 23, 2025
Danielle Bukovsky, Aron Amaev, Jianmeng Song et al.
A systematic review of 42 clinical studies involving 1,068 participants found that psilocybin, when administered in controlled settings, has a favorable safety profile. Common adverse events included headache, transient increases in blood pressure, and nausea, which typically resolved on their own. Serious adverse events were reported infrequently, in only 2 of the 42 studies, and were limited to participants with underlying depressive disorders, such as suicidal behavior or hospitalization. All studies had a high risk of bias due to concerns regarding blinding. The review provides an outline of common and uncommon adverse events, serious adverse events, and considerations for future protocols.