Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of human studies

A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of seven double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials involving 489 adults with depression found that the optimal daily dose of psilocybin to reduce depression scores varies by population. The 95% effective dose (ED95) was 8.92 mg/70 kg for secondary depression, 24.68 mg/70 kg for primary depression, and 36.08 mg/70 kg when combining both subgroups. Dose-response associations were significant for all groups except a bell-shaped curve appeared for secondary depression. Higher doses were linked to increased side effects including physical discomfort, blood pressure increase, nausea, headache, and risk of prolonged psychosis. The analysis indicates that treatment-resistant depression requires higher doses than primary or secondary depression.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psilocybin is increasingly studied for its antidepressant effect, but its optimal dosage for depression remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and a dose-response meta-analysis to find the optimal dosage of psilocybin to reduce depression scores. Following our protocol (CRD 42022220190) multiple electronic databases were searched from their inception until February 2023, to identify double-blind randomized placebo-controlled (RCTs) fixed-dose trials evaluating the use of psilocybin for adult patients with primary or secondary depression. A one-stage dose-response meta-analysis with restricted cubic splines was used. Cochrane risk of bias was used to assess risk of bias. Our analysis included seven studies with a total of 489 participants. Among these, four studies focused on primary depression (N = 366), including one study with patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression. The remaining three studies examined secondary depression (N = 123). The determined 95% effective doses per day (ED95) were 8.92, 24.68, and 36.08 mg/70 kg for patients with secondary depression, primary depression, and both subgroups, respectively. We observed significant dose-response associations for all curves, each plateauing at different levels, except for the bell-shaped curve observed in the case of secondary depression. Additionally, we found significant dose-response associations for various side effects, including physical discomfort, blood pressure increase, nausea/vomiting, headache/migraine, and the risk of prolonged psychosis. In conclusion, we discovered specific ED95 values for different populations, indicating higher ED95 values for treatment-resistant depression, primary depression, and secondary depression groups. Further RCTs are necessary for each population to determine the optimal dosage, allowing for maximum efficacy while minimizing side effects.