Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health Depression

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

by Eric W. Dolan
January 2, 2023
in Depression, Psilocybin

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A single dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin combined with supportive counseling leads to significant reductions in depressive symptoms, according to a new double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The findings have recently been published in eClinicalMedicine.

Psilocybin is a psychoactive compound found in certain types of “magic” mushrooms. It has been used for hundreds of years in spiritual and religious rituals for its ability to alter one’s state of consciousness. Psilocybin produces powerful effects on the brain, mediated through its activation of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.

In recent years, psilocybin has undergone clinical studies to explore its potential therapeutic benefits, with promising results in areas including depression and anxiety. However, further research is needed to understand the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy.

“I developed a scientific passion for the topic when investigating the neuro-behavioral and subjective effects of 5-HT2A agonists in my earlier academic career. That passion was further fueled with the current shortcomings in several psychiatric standard of care treatment options and the therapeutic potential of psychedelic molecules like psilocybin,” said study author Robin von Rotz, who conducted the trial as part of his PhD at the University of Zurich.

In the study, 52 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of psilocybin or placebo combined with psychological support. Five participants in the psilocybin treatment group and 11 participants in the control group reported having previous experience with psychedelic drugs. The study utilized a double-blind procedure, meaning neither the researchers or the participants knew who was in the psilocybin group and who was in the control group.

The participants first completed a medical screening at the Psychiatric University Hospital in Zürich. They then underwent two preparatory visits prior to psilocybin/placebo administration. On their next visit, those in the psilocybin treatment group received a pill containing 0.215 mg/kg body weight of psilocybin, while those in the control group received received a pill that was identical in size, weight, shape and color and contained pure mannitol (a common sweetener with no psychoactive properties).

The “participants were instructed to immerse themselves in the experience with an introspective focus,” the researchers explained. “A standardised playlist with music was played via headphones or speakers. One trained therapist was present in the room throughout the administration day to respond to the participants’ needs. All visits were conducted in a living-room like environment.”

The participants then completed three integration visits two days, eight days, and 14 days after the intervention in which therapists helped them to work through challenging emotions and create a meaningful narrative of their experience. Throughout the study, depression symptom severity was assessed via the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Beck’s Depression Inventory.

The researchers found evidence that psilocybin-assisted therapy was efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms. Immediately after the intervention, those in the psilocybin condition showed an decrease in symptom severity of −13.0 points compared to baseline, which was a significantly larger reduction compared to those in the placebo condition. This statistically significant decrease in symptom severity persisted until at least 14 days after the intervention.

“The main takeaway from this publication is that a single, moderate dose of psilocybin administered in conjunction with psychological support in patients with major depressive disorder is capable of producing rapid alleviation of depressive symptoms,” von Rotz told PsyPost. “Noteworthy, not all patients responded equally well, which points to the fact that this therapeutic approach should not be treated as a ‘magic bullet’ and considerable research into mode(s) of treatment action is still required to draw a more definite conclusion.”

As part of the study, the participants completed the Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire, which assesses subjective psychedelic experiences related to oceanic boundlessness, ego dissolution, visual restructuralization, auditory alterations, and vigilance reduction. Contrary to previous findings, the researchers found no evidence that these subjective experiences were associated with treatment response.

“I was probably most surprised by the lack of an empirically salient relationship between the phenomenology of subjective experiences and clinical response,” von Rotz said. “This stands in contrast to the practical clinical observations during the conductance of the study pointing towards a sensible relationship.”

However, he noted that “when designing the study, the primary focus was set on detecting clinically relevant amelioration of symptoms and only secondarily on the sensitivity to explain underlying the mechanisms. Therefore, the not confirmed relationship between treatment outcomes and subjective experiences in this publication needs to be taken with a grain of salt.”

The researchers also found that psilocybin had to a relatively mild adverse event profile. Psilocybin increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but not heart rate. The most frequently reported adverse event was mild headache.

“Most of the results obtained from this study point towards the necessity of future studies utilizing multimodal measurement approaches and long observation periods to foster a deeper understanding of this novel treatment paradigm. Despite the promising findings that were published to date, there is still a considerable scientific journey to undertake, before psychedelic therapy is well enough understood to complement existing mental health care.”

The study, “Single-dose psilocybin-assisted therapy in major depressive disorder: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised clinical trial“, was authored by Robin von Rotz, Eva M. Schindowski, Johannes Jungwirth, Anna Schuldt, Nathalie M. Rieser, Katharina Zahoranszky, Erich Seifritz, Albina Nowak, Peter Nowak, Lutz Jäncke, Katrin H. Preller, and Franz X. Vollenweider.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin15Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

When skin becomes smoother, the face is seen as prettier, even if it isn’t detectable

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Exposure to social media can increase adolescent materialism but can be tempered with high self-esteem and mindfulness

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Study uncovers a “particularly alarming” link between men’s feelings of personal deprivation and hostile sexism

Massive study sheds light on the psychological consequences of COVID-19 distress among workers

RECENT

Is sexual loneliness a public health problem?

Massive study sheds light on the psychological consequences of COVID-19 distress among workers

New study links psychedelic drug experience to certain positive health behaviors

Electrical brain stimulation techniques can enhance hypnotizability, study finds

Exposure to social media can increase adolescent materialism but can be tempered with high self-esteem and mindfulness

An individual’s personality traits may influence their desire to make environmentally friendly food choices

Nipple erection influences perceptions of women’s intelligence, morality, and sexuality

When skin becomes smoother, the face is seen as prettier, even if it isn’t detectable

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.