Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Study
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with 29 patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression randomly assigned to single-dose psilocybin or a niacin placebo, both paired with psychotherapy.
Results
Psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and decreases in cancer-related demoarlization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life.
At 6.5 month follow-up, psilocybin was associated with enduring anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, where 60-80% of participants had clinically significant reductions)
Discussion
Combining a single dose of psilocybin with psychotherapy could produce rapid, significant, and enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects in patients with cancer-related distress.
Citation
Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, et al. Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2016;30(12):1165-1180. doi:10.1177/0269881116675512
