Significant benefit seen as early as eight days compared with placebo<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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TUESDAY, Sept. 5, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Psilocybin treatment is associated with a clinically significant sustained reduction in depressive symptoms and functional disability in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a phase 2 study published online Aug. 31 in the Journal of the American Medical Association<\/em>.<\/p>\n Charles L. Raison, M.D., from Usona Institute in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and colleagues evaluated the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD. The analysis included 104 adults (aged 21 to 65 years) with MDD who were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a single dose of psilocybin or niacin placebo.<\/p>\n The researchers found that psilocybin treatment was associated with significantly reduced Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores versus niacin from baseline to day 43 (mean difference, \u00e2\u0088\u009212.3; P < 0.001) and from baseline to day 8 (mean difference, \u00e2\u0088\u009212.0; P < 0.001). There was also a significant reduction in Sheehan Disability Scale scores for psilocybin treatment compared with niacin (mean difference, \u00e2\u0088\u00922.31; P < 0.001) from baseline to day 43. Compared with niacin treatment, more participants receiving psilocybin had sustained response (but not remission). Psilocybin treatment was associated with a higher rate of overall adverse events (AEs) and a higher rate of severe AEs, but there were no serious treatment-emergent AEs.<\/p>\n These findings add to increasing evidence that psilocybin — when administered with psychological support — may hold promise as a novel intervention for MDD, the authors write.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n