Journal
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
Volume 30, Issue 12, Pages 1165-1180Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/0269881116675512
Keywords
Psilocybin; psychedelic; cancer; depression; anxiety; mystical experience
Funding
- Heffter Research Institute
- RiverStyx Foundation
- New York University-Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYU-HHC) Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health [UL1 TR000038]
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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
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