Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2022;10(11):31 J Psychopharmacol. 2016 23-Feb;():. 10.1177/0269881116675512What this means for my practice?
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin produced rapid, robust and enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects. These effects were observed after a 6.5 month follow-up period. There were also sustained benefits in existential distress and quality of life and improved attitudes towards death. The psilocybin-induced mystical experience mediated the therapeutic effect of psilocybin on anxiety and depression. No adverse events were reported. This study was limited by the small sample size, and the homogeneity of the sample.
Study Summary
Twenty-nine patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study to test the effects of psilocybin on cancer-related anxiety and depression. Patients randomly received either single-dose psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) or a placebo. Primary outcome measures were anxiety and depression between groups. Prior to the crossover, psilocybin induced immediate, substantial and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual well being and increased quality of life.
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