There is renewed interest in the application of psychedelics in psychiatric care. This trial is the first that examines the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-treatment at a larger scale in participants with treatment resistant depression.
We are joined by Renske Blom, resident psychiatry, MD (Sub-I of the psilocybin study) and Metten Somers, psychiatrist, MD , PhD, MBA (PI of the psilocybin study) from the Utrecht Medical Center , Department of Psychiatry affective and psychotic disorder to talk about their study (full event description below).
Psilocybin occurs naturally in different mushroom-species and is sold in smartshops in the Netherlands as ‘magic truffles’. In the 60’s, psilocybin was synthesized and brought to the market by Sandoz as an compound to facilitate enhanced psychotherapy. Since psilocybin appeared on Schedule I of the controlled substances act in 1971, research halted for almost 35 years. In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the use of psilocybin in psychiatric care, for instance as a treatment for depressive symptoms. Two recent studies show a fast and often persistent reduction in depressive symptoms (1,2).
Participants are randomized and will receive a double blind dosage of psilocybin (1mg, 10mg or 25mg). During the psilocybin-session, participants are guided by a trained therapist and a co-therapist. There will also be preparatory and integration sessions with the therapist.
The trial is sponsored by Compass Pathways http://compasspathways.com/ .
1. Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Rucker J, et al. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(7):619-627. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-7