Psilocybin Outperforms SSRIs in Long-Term Depression Treatment
A recent study from Imperial College London has revealed a new potential treatment for major depression, psilocybin.
Study design:
- The study was a phase 2 double-blind, randomized, controlled trial where 59 adults with MDD were randomized into two groups for psilocybin therapy (PT) and escitalopram therapy (ET).
Key findings:
- It revealed that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, might offer better long-term relief for people with moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to traditional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like escitalopram.
- Patients treated with psilocybin showed greater improvements in well-being, social functioning, and life compared to those on escitalopram despite both groups having similar reductions in depressive symptoms.
- Psilocybin was associated with fewer and less severe side effects primarily consisting of headaches while escitalopram was associated with more varied and impairing side effects, particularly concerning sexual functioning.
- The study has limitations, including a lack of full control over follow-up treatments, which might have affected the results.
Implications:
- The findings suggest a potential shift in how depression could be treated with psilocybin therapy as it is a reliable alternative for patients who do not respond well to SSRIs or seek a more holistic approach to mental health.
- Unlike SSRIs which focus on addressing negative symptoms while neglecting the root causes of depression, psilocybin therapy targets both the symptoms and underlying causes thereby improving patients' quality of life and social interactions.
Next steps:
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the integration of psilocybin into standard treatment protocols, potentially reshaping mental health care strategies.
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