A small study revealed that a couple of doses of a psychedelic drug, Psilocybin, may treat depression better than common antidepressants.
What We Know:
- Researchers conducted the trial in London, and it is now known as the first experiment to compare therapeutic doses of psilocybin with daily medications. The results of the test were released in The New England Journal of Medicine.
- Roland Griffiths, the Director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, calls the research “good” and possibly better than typical antidepressants. Griffiths, however, was not involved with the study. There is still plenty of research needed to be done in order to determine if psychedelics, psilocybin included, are effective treatments long-term. Patients who are given the drugs would need to be monitored for hours after taking the drug, so it isn’t clear yet how it would be used in the real world.
- The trial lasted six weeks and included 59 adults. About 30 people received two 25 mg doses of psilocybin three weeks apart, as well as six weeks of a daily placebo pill. The second group was only exposed to an extremely low dose of psilocybin for two visits. They were also given a daily dose of escitalopram, which is similar to Lexapro.
- All of the participants conducted the experiment in a clinician’s office where they were monitored until the doctor determined the effects had worn off and they could go home safely. Researchers used two questionnaires filled out by participants and two evaluations from clinicians in order to determine if the individuals’ depression symptoms had improved. The findings add to the existing body of research suggesting psychedelic drugs could be used in clinical settings to treat depression and that they are likely to have lasting effects.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 13% of American adults are prescribed antidepressants.
