Does Psilocybin Help with Depression? Let's Look at the Scientific Studies

In recent years, studies have begun into whether multiple psychedelics could hold the key to battling the mental health pandemic. One such psychedelic being assessed is psilocybin. So let’s take a look at what psilocybin is and what the science says about its effect in beating depression.

What is psilocybin?

Psilocybin is the compound found in magic mushrooms which causes the psychedelic effects. In the UK (and many other countries) mushrooms containing psilocybin are illegal. Here in the UK, magic mushrooms are a class A drug.

Can magic mushrooms help with depression?

In short, yes. There’s evidence to suggest magic mushrooms (or the psilocybin in them) could help in the treatment of depression.

There are lots of different potential benefits of psilocybin being researched. One of the most promising potential uses is in the treatment of depression, particularly depression that has been resistant to other treatment types.

Studies into Psilocybin and Depression

There are a number of studies now into psilocybin and depression. Here are some of the key ones.

Title of Study	Year	Number of Participants	Country	Summary of Findings	Link to Research Paper
Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial	2022	27	United States	Psilocybin therapy was significantly more effective than a waiting list control in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder.	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33146667/
Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder	2020	19	United States	Psilocybin therapy was significantly more effective than escitalopram in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder.	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32334102/
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial	2018	22	United States	Psilocybin therapy was significantly more effective than a placebo in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with life-threatening cancer.	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27909165/
Analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Medicine: A Narrative Review	2022	16	United States	Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promising results in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35273885/
Psychotherapy with Psilocybin for Depression: A Systematic Review	2022	14	United States	Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of depression.	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10135952/
Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder	2022	21	United States and Europe	A single dose of psilocybin was significantly more effective than a placebo in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder.	https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206443

There are things we must bear in mind though:

Many of these are small studies – much more research is needed
Given the class A status of magic mushrooms, getting permission to run trials can be complex which has been previously prohibitive
Gathering anecdotal evidence from casual users is also more difficult given that the substance is illegal and therefore recreational users are potentially more reluctant to discuss their usage

However, there are signs that psilocybin could prove an effective treatment for depression.

In particular, the 2022 study with over 100 participants showed that a single 25mg dose of psilocybin when followed with therapy was able to send treatment resistant depression into remission in a third of participants.

How Much Psilocybin Has Been Administered in Trials?

This has varied trial by trial. However, there are some studies that show even a single dose (as opposed to a recurring treatment) can have a positive impact on depression. In the largest of the trials referenced above, the most effective single dose given appears to have been 25mg of psilocybin.

What are the Risks of Psilocybin?

Psilocybin isn’t a miracle cure. Psychedelics come with hallucinations in many people and this also opens up the possibility of a “bad trip.” Some believe that being in a poor frame of mind to start with (potentially more likely in people with depression) can increase the chance of a bad trip.

Other risks include:

Psychosis: Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk of experiencing psilocybin-induced psychosis, requiring immediate medical attention
Nausea and vomiting which are common side effects
Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
In those with a history of seizures, psilocybin may mean these people have an increase risk of such seizures

Should You Take Psilocybin for Depression?

No. In short, you shouldn’t just go and dose yourself on magic mushrooms to treat depression.

As it stands, the research is in early days and psilocybin remains a Class A drug.

If you’re suffering with depression, please seek the advice of your Doctor. And a Google search may also present an opportunity to take part in such trials.