Psilocybin shows rapid relief for depression symptoms
Mental Health Weekly June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/mhw.34890
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single dose of psilocybin can rapidly reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder, with improvements appearing within days and lasting for weeks. In a randomized clinical trial, patients who received psilocybin had significantly larger decreases in depression scores than those given an active placebo, meeting the primary endpoint at eight days.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People with major depressive disorder |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Key finding | Patients receiving psilocybin experienced significantly larger reductions in depression scores compared with those given an active placebo at eight days. |
Abstract
A single dose of psilocybin may provide rapid relief for people with major depressive disorder (MDD), with benefits emerging within days and lasting for several weeks, according to a randomized clinical trial published May 15 in JAMA Network Open . Researchers of the study, “Short‐Term and Late‐Term Effects of Psilocybin on Symptoms in Major Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” found that patients receiving psilocybin experienced significantly larger reductions in depression scores compared with those given an active placebo, meeting the study's primary endpoint at eight days.