Magic mushrooms’ psilocybin can alleviate severe depression when used with therapy
The psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms can help alleviate severe depression when combined with psychotherapy, according to a trial that raises hopes for people failed by existing antidepressants.
Nearly a third of patients with severe depression went into rapid remission after a single 25mg dose of psilocybin followed by therapy sessions, which aimed to help patients identify causes and potential solutions to their depression, researchers said.
The results from the largest clinical trial yet into psilocybin and depression were described as “exceptional” by Prof Guy Goodwin, the chief medical officer at Compass Pathways, the mental healthcare firm that led the trial conducted at 22 sites across the UK, Europe and North America.
An estimated 100 million people worldwide have treatment-resistant depression, defined as a major depressive disorder that has not responded to at least two antidepressant treatments. About half of those affected are unable to perform routine daily tasks.
“Response rates in this group with treatment-resistant depression are usually between 10 and 20%,” Goodwin said. “We are seeing remission rates at three weeks of about 30% … that is a very satisfactory outcome.”
Dr James Rucker, a consultant psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, who worked on the trial at King’s College London, said treatment-resistant depression placed a “staggering” burden on patients and those around them, with a total cost to the UK of £3.9bn a year.
The phase 2b clinical trial recruited 233 patients with resistant depression and randomly assigned them to receive a single capsule of either 1mg, 10mg or 25mg of synthetic psilocybin called Comp360. Patients listened to a calming playlist and wore eye shades to turn their attention inward for at least six hours while the psychedelic took hold.
A therapist was present throughout to ensure the patients were safe and well. The volunteers went on to have therapy sessions the day after having the drug and one week later.
Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that depression scores, measured on the standard Montgomery-Åsberg depression scale, improved immediately after treatment in all three arms of the trial.
The most significant impact was in those on the highest 25mg dose of