Long-term benefits of single-dose psilocybin in depressed patients with cancer.

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Patients with cancer often struggle with depression, which can negatively impact quality of life as well as be challenging to manage.<h4>Methods</h4>A phase 2 trial was conducted that demonstrated safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a single dose of psilocybin combined with psychological support in a community cancer setting in 30 patients with cancer and a major depressive disorder. Here, efficacy outcomes at 2 years' follow-up are reported.<h4>Results</h4>Of 28 patients, 15 (53.6%) demonstrated significant reduction in depression as measured by the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (average, -15.0 points from baseline; p < .001), and 14 (50%) had sustained depression reduction. Thirteen patients (46.4%) experienced significant reduction in anxiety as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (average, -13.9 points from baseline, p < .001), and 12 (42.9%) had sustained anxiety reduction.<h4>Conclusions</h4>These findings demonstrate robust antidepressive activity from a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin combined with psychotherapy and suggest a potentially paradigm-changing alternative to traditional antidepressants requiring further study.

Topics & conditions

Detected automatically by Psychedelic Commons from the title and abstract, not labels from the source. They may be incomplete.

Keywords