Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial
- PMID: 27909164
- PMCID: PMC5367551
- DOI: 10.1177/0269881116675512
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Background: Clinically significant anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer, and are associated with poor psychiatric and medical outcomes. Historical and recent research suggests a role for psilocybin to treat cancer-related anxiety and depression.
Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 29 patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression were randomly assigned and received treatment with single-dose psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) or niacin, both in conjunction with psychotherapy. The primary outcomes were anxiety and depression assessed between groups prior to the crossover at 7 weeks.
Results: Prior to the crossover, psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life. At the 6.5-month follow-up, psilocybin was associated with enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects (approximately 60-80% of participants continued with clinically significant reductions in depression or anxiety), sustained benefits in existential distress and quality of life, as well as improved attitudes towards death. The psilocybin-induced mystical experience mediated the therapeutic effect of psilocybin on anxiety and depression.
Conclusions: In conjunction with psychotherapy, single moderate-dose psilocybin produced rapid, robust and enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects in patients with cancer-related psychological distress.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00957359.
Keywords: Psilocybin; anxiety; cancer; depression; mystical experience; psychedelic.
© The Author(s) 2016.
Conflict of interest statement
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Comment in
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Back to the future: Research renewed on the clinical utility of psychedelic drugs.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1198-1200. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675755. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909166 No abstract available.
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Psilocybin in end of life care: Implications for further research.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1203-1204. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675758. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909168 No abstract available.
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Psycho-existential distress in cancer patients: A return to "entheogens".J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1205-1206. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675761. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909169 No abstract available.
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Psilocybin and palliative end-of-life care.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1207-1208. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675764. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909170 No abstract available.
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Psilocybin for depression and anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1209-1210. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675771. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909171 No abstract available.
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The successful return of psychedelics to psychiatry.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1211. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675779. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909172 No abstract available.
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Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for dying cancer patients - aiding the final trip.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1215-1217. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675783. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909174 No abstract available.
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Psilocybin: promising results in double-blind trials require confirmation by real-world evidence.J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1218-1219. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675784. J Psychopharmacol. 2016. PMID: 27909175 No abstract available.
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