Neurobiological mechanisms of antidepressant properties of psilocybin: A systematic review of blood biomarkers.

A systematic review of nine studies found that psilocybin consistently decreases interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and eosinophils, and increases cortisol, prolactin, oxytocin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and free fatty acids in healthy participants. These biomarker changes align with preclinical evidence and suggest psilocybin may have beneficial effects on biological processes involved in major depressive disorder. However, results are preliminary due to the small number of studies and exclusive use of healthy volunteers. Further research with clinical populations, larger samples, and longer follow-up is needed before drawing firm conclusions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psilocybin represents a novel therapeutic approach for individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who do not respond to conventional antidepressant treatment. Investigating the influence of psilocybin on the pathophysiological processes involved in MDD could enhance our neurobiological understanding of the presumed antidepressant action mechanism. This systematic review aims to summarize the results of human studies investigating changes in blood-based biomarkers of MDD to guide future research on potentially relevant analytes that could be monitored in clinical trials. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science to retrieve studies investigating changes in serum and plasma levels of neurotrophic, immunologic, neuroendocrine, and metabolic markers. Nine studies were included, describing findings on 15 biomarkers, exclusively in healthy participants. Studies consistently reported a decrease in interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and eosinophils, and an increase in cortisol, prolactin, oxytocin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and free fatty acids following psilocybin administration. Less consistent effects were observed on interleukin-1β, interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, and growth hormone. The results are in line with preclinical studies and provide initial support from human studies that psilocybin potentially leads to beneficial effects on biomarkers of MDD. However, given the limited number of studies, findings should be approached with caution prior to replication. Further research should include larger samples, clinical populations, longer-term assessment, rigorous experimental designs, and account for the potential confounding of psychological stress related to the psychedelic experience.