Overview

• In the Phase II trial, 28 cancer patients with major depressive disorder received a single 25-mg dose of psilocybin combined with pre-, during- and post-session psychological support.
• Clinical interviews two years after treatment found that 53.6% of participants showed significant depression reduction and 50% maintained remission.
• Anxiety levels decreased in 42.9% of the patients at the two-year follow-up.
• Psilocybin’s action as a selective serotonin 2A receptor agonist is thought to modulate neural circuits governing mood regulation and cognitive flexibility.
• An ongoing randomized, double-blind trial is comparing up to two 25-mg doses of psilocybin against placebo to assess whether repeated treatments can increase remission rates.