The role of psilocybin in depressive disorders

Psilocybin combined with psychotherapy shows promise for treating depressive disorders, including major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials report immediate and sustained antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, with benefits lasting up to 12 months post-treatment. Psilocybin has a favorable safety profile, is well-tolerated, and has low abuse potential. It may offer a valuable option for patients with depression, including those with comorbid terminal cancer. Future research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the synergistic interaction between psilocybin and psychological support.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Depression is a serious psychiatric disorder with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality and psilocybin with psychotherapy has emerged as a promising potential in the treatment of depressive disorders. A review of psilocybin use in patients with depressive disorders is presented.A search was conducted investigating the use of psilocybin in patients with depressive disorders and treatment resistant depression via PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar in October 2023; all publication types were permitted and limited for English-language. Keyword search terms included: "psilocybin" or "psychedelics" and "depression", or "major depressive disorder", or "treatment-resistant depression". Controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials utilizing psilocybin with psychological support for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, as well as in patients with depression and cancer related anxiety have demonstrated immediate and sustained antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Psilocybin has a favorable safety profile and was well-tolerated in clinical trials. Psilocybin's abuse potential is low and clinical research suggests the potential of psilocybin to produce rapid and lasting antidepressant effects up to 12 months post-treatment. Psilocybin may offer a valuable contribution as an option to the currently available pharmacological and psychotherapeutic agents for patients with major depressive disorders, treatment-resistant depression as well as for patients with depression and comorbid terminal cancer. Future studies are needed to demonstrate these findings and any synergistic interaction between psilocybin and the psychological support offered to patients during sessions.