Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression
Robin Carhart‐Harris, Bruna Giribaldi, Rosalind Watts, Michelle Baker-Jones, Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, Roberta Murphy, Jonny Martell, Allan Blemings, David Erritzøe, David Nutt
New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2032994 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn a selected group of patients, psilocybin did not show a significantly greater antidepressant effect than escitalopram based on depression scores at week 6. Secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin, but these analyses were not corrected for multiple comparisons. The authors call for larger and longer trials to compare psilocybin with established antidepressants.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Selected group of patients with depression |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Escitalopram |
| Duration | 6-week intervention |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Escitalopram Depression economics Psychology |
| Citations | 1,372 |
| Registration | NCT03429075 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin did not show a significant difference in antidepressant effects compared to escitalopram at week 6. |
Abstract
On the basis of the change in depression scores on the QIDS-SR-16 at week 6, this trial did not show a significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and escitalopram in a selected group of patients. Secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin over escitalopram, but the analyses of these outcomes lacked correction for multiple comparisons. Larger and longer trials are required to compare psilocybin with established antidepressants. (Funded by the Alexander Mosley Charitable Trust and Imperial College London's Centre for Psychedelic Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03429075.).