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

A single dose of psilocybin might help reduce symptoms in treatment-resistant depression

by Vladimir Hedrih
May 12, 2025
in Depression, Psilocybin
[Adobe Stock]

[Adobe Stock]

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay informed on the latest psychology and neuroscience research—follow PsyPost on LinkedIn for daily updates and insights.

An open-label study of 12 individuals with severe treatment-resistant depression found that their symptoms significantly decreased three weeks after taking a single dose of psilocybin. These improvements persisted through the 12-week follow-up period. However, participants who also had posttraumatic stress disorder tended to experience less benefit. The research was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.” In the body, psilocybin is converted into psilocin, which binds to serotonin receptors in the brain. This interaction produces altered perceptions, shifts in mood, and changes in consciousness.

Historically, psilocybin has been used in spiritual and ceremonial practices for centuries. In recent years, it has attracted growing scientific interest due to its potential to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and addiction. Clinical studies suggest that psilocybin can promote lasting emotional insight and symptom relief after just one or two guided sessions. Although considered physiologically safe in controlled settings, it can sometimes cause acute psychological distress. Legal status varies worldwide, but interest in therapeutic use and decriminalization is expanding rapidly.

Study author Scott T. Aaronson and his colleagues sought to examine the effects of a single dose of synthetic psilocybin, administered with psychological support, in individuals with severe treatment-resistant depression. This form of major depressive disorder is defined by failure to respond to multiple adequate antidepressant trials. In this study, all participants had failed to improve with at least five different treatments in their current depressive episode.

Up to 55% of people treated for depression may meet criteria for treatment resistance, making it a major public health concern and a high priority for research into new therapies.

The final sample included 12 patients selected from 205 individuals who were screened. There were equal numbers of men and women, and the average age was approximately 41 years. Five participants had a comorbid diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Each participant received a single oral dose of 25 milligrams of synthetic psilocybin (COMP360) and was monitored for 12 weeks. Depression severity was assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, a clinician-administered measure. Assessments were conducted at baseline, and then again at 1, 3, and 12 weeks post-treatment. Participants also completed self-report measures of quality of life (the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire–Short Form) and anxiety symptoms (the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale).

Results showed a sharp reduction in depression symptoms one week after dosing. While symptoms slightly increased again by week 3, they remained significantly lower than at baseline. By week 12, scores had decreased again slightly compared to week 3, particularly according to clinician ratings.

Most participants showed a marked decrease in symptoms. However, a few individuals had smaller improvements, and in some cases, symptoms returned to near-baseline levels. Those with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder tended to show less reduction in depression symptoms across time.

“As an initial foray into psilocybin treatment for patients with MDD (major depressive disorder) that is difficult-to-treat, this study provided an early indication of safety, tolerability, and promising potential efficacy. An unexplored question concerns the durability of the antidepressant effect beyond 12 weeks and whether durability can be extended with additional dosing,” the study authors concluded.

The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that psilocybin could be a valuable tool for addressing hard-to-treat depression. However, the study had several important limitations. It was open-label, meaning there was no control or placebo group, and both researchers and participants knew that psilocybin was being administered. This increases the potential for expectancy effects and placebo responses.

Moreover, although clinician-rated scales were used, all results ultimately relied on subjective reporting, either by participants or the clinicians evaluating them. This leaves the data vulnerable to biases such as the Hawthorne effect, where individuals alter their behavior because they know they are being studied.

Without a control group, it’s also impossible to determine how much of the observed improvement was due to the psilocybin itself, rather than natural fluctuations in mood, psychological support, or other external factors.

The paper, “Single-Dose Psilocybin for Depression With Severe Treatment Resistance: An Open-Label Trial,” was authored by Scott T. Aaronson, Andrew van der Vaart, Tammy Miller, Jeffrey LaPratt, Kimberly Swartz, Audrey Shoultz, Margo Lauterbach, Trisha Suppes, and Harold A. Sackeim.

TweetSendScanShareSendPinShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Loss of empathy in frontotemporal dementia traced to weakened brain signals
Depression

New neuroscience research reveals brain antioxidant deficit in depression

June 22, 2025

A new meta-analysis suggests that people with major depressive disorder have lower levels of the brain antioxidant glutathione in the occipital cortex. The findings highlight a possible role for oxidative stress in depression and point to potential treatment targets.

Read moreDetails
Gut-brain connection: Proinflammatory bacteria linked to hippocampal changes in depression
Depression

Scientists reveal a surprising link between depression and microbes in your mouth

June 21, 2025

Lower diversity in the oral microbiome was linked to higher depressive symptoms in a large U.S. sample, with especially strong associations among men and non-Hispanic Whites. Differences in microbial composition were also observed between depressed and non-depressed individuals.

Read moreDetails
Borderline personality and depression: New findings show gender differences in adolescents
Anxiety

New research links heatwaves to depression and anxiety in adolescents, with some at higher risk

June 19, 2025

A new study finds that teens exposed to stronger heatwaves are more likely to experience mental health symptoms, raising concerns about the psychological impact of climate change on youth.

Read moreDetails
Some dark personality traits may help buffer against depression, new psychology research suggests
Mental Health

Psilocybin-assisted therapy linked to reduced depression in people with bipolar disorder, small study finds

June 17, 2025

A pilot study involving psilocybin-assisted therapy found possible antidepressant effects for people with bipolar II disorder. The treatment appeared well-tolerated, with no signs of mania or psychosis, offering cautious optimism for future bipolar depression research.

Read moreDetails
Some dark personality traits may help buffer against depression, new psychology research suggests
Dark Triad

Some dark personality traits may help buffer against depression, new psychology research suggests

June 17, 2025

Dark traits like narcissism and psychopathy are often associated with dysfunction, but new findings reveal that certain facets—especially Machiavellian agency—might help people manage stress and depression more effectively through adaptive coping strategies.

Read moreDetails
Psilocybin from “magic” mushrooms weakens the brain’s response to angry faces
Addiction

Single-dose psilocybin therapy shows promise for reducing alcohol consumption

June 15, 2025

Early results from a pilot study indicate that psilocybin-assisted therapy could be linked to lower alcohol consumption and improved psychological outcomes, though larger controlled trials are needed to determine whether the psilocybin itself is responsible for these changes.

Read moreDetails
Poor sleep may shrink brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, study suggests
Depression

Low-carb diets linked to reduced depression symptoms — but there’s a catch

June 14, 2025

Low-carb diets rich in healthy fats and plant proteins are linked to fewer depression symptoms, according to new research. But low-carb diets high in saturated fat and animal protein show no mental health advantage.

Read moreDetails
Psilocybin appears to have a uniquely powerful relationship with nature relatedness
Neuroimaging

Psilocybin induces large-scale brain network reorganization, offering insights into the psychedelic state

June 14, 2025

A new study using high-resolution EEG reveals that psilocybin dramatically alters brain connectivity in rats. The psychedelic induced dose-dependent changes in network organization, disrupting normal patterns of neural communication and suggesting rodents may be viable models for studying altered consciousness.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Exposure to heavy metals is associated with higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis

Eye-tracking study shows people fixate longer on female aggressors than male ones

Romantic breakups follow a two-stage decline that begins years before the split, study finds

Believing “news will find me” is linked to sharing fake news, study finds

A common parasite not only invades the brain — it can also decapitate human sperm

Almost all unmarried pregant women say that the fetus resembles the father, study finds

New neuroscience research reveals brain antioxidant deficit in depression

Scientists uncover kidney-to-brain route for Parkinson’s-related protein spread

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

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

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy