Read the Research

Breakthrough Therapy Designations: Psilocybin has received Breakthrough Therapy designation multiple times (Compass Pathways, Usona, Cybin).

Key Studies:

Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for MDD: A Randomized Clinical Trial (JAMA Psychiatry, Aug 2023)

Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Patients Taking a Concomitant SSRI medication (Neuropharmacology, July 2023)

Psilocybin-assisted Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: An exploratory placebo-controlled, fixed-order trial (Journal of Psychopharmacology, March 2023)

Single-dose Psilocybin-assistedTherapy in Major Depressive Disorder: A Placebo-controlled, Double-blind, Randomised ClinicalTrial (EClinicalMedicine, Dec 2022)

Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression (NEJM, Nov 2022)

Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder (JAMA Psychiatry, Nov 2020)

Psilocybin with Psychological Support for Treatment-Resistant Depression: an Open-Label Feasibility Study (Lancet Psychiatry, May 2016)

Durability of Effects:

Efficacy and Safety of Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Prospective 12-month Follow-Up (Journal of Psychopharmacology, Feb 2022)

Psilocybin with Psychological Support for Treatment-Resistant Depression: 6-month Follow-Up (Psychopharmacology, Nov 2017)

Comparison to Antidepressants:

Trial of Psilocybin vs Escitalopram for Depression (NEJM, April 2021)

Ongoing Trials: 16 ongoing/planned trials, including two Phase III trials (Compass, Usona). Potential FDA approval 2026/2027.

Key Studies:

HOPE: A Pilot Study of Psilocybin-Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients with Cancer (J of Pain & Symptom Management, June 2023)

Acute & Sustained Reductions in Loss of Meaning & Suicidal Ideation Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric & Existential Distress in Life-Threatening Cancer (Academic Psychiatry, March 2021)

Long-Term Follow-Up of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric & Existential Distress in Patients with Life-Threatening Cancer (J of Psychopharmacology, Jan 2020)

Rapid & Sustained Symptom Reduction Following Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety & Depression in Patients with Life-Threatening Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial (J of Psychopharmacology, Nov 2016)

Psilocybin Produces Substantial and Sustained Decreases in Depression & Anxiety in Patients with Life-Threatening Cancer: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial (J of Psychopharmacology, Nov 2016)

Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients with Advanced-Stage Cancer (Archives of General Psychiatry, 2010)

Ongoing Trials: 11 ongoing/planned trials.

Key Studies:

Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (JAMA Psychiatry, Aug 2022)

Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Dependence: a Proof-of-Concept Study (J of Psychopharmacology, Jan 2015)

Ongoing Trials: 8 ongoing/planned trials. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Psilocybin for Trauma Related Disorders Open Label Study (2022)

Smoking Cessation:

Long-Term Follow-Up of Psilocybin-Facilitated Smoking Cessation (American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Jan 2017)

Pilot Study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction (J of Psychopharmacology, Sept 2014)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of psilocybin in 9 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (2006)

Social Anxiety Disorder: Potential effects on neural activity and connectivity of psilocybin-assisted mindfulness-based intervention for social anxiety disorder: A systematic review (Aug 2022)

Ongoing Trials: Over 60 ongoing or planned trials for various indications. 

 Increases in divergent thinking (proxy of creativity); greater deliberate and spontaneous problem solving ability after the experience 2021 

Increase in Openness and Conscientiousness with decreases in Neuroticism, Introversion, Impulsivity (these traits broadly correlate with mental health)

Personality change in a trial of psilocybin therapy v. escitalopram treatment for depression 2023

Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness

Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure 2018 

Single psilocybin session increased engagement in meditation (depth and frequency of practice)

Meditation retreat plus psilocybin resulted in openness, optimism, and reappraisal of negative emotion

Reductions in self-consciousness (correlate of anxiety, including social anxiety) 

Mystical experience correlates with better therapeutic outcome; Impact on sense of meaning