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Comparison between Single-Dose and Two-Dose Psilocybin Administration in the Treatment of Major Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Current Clinical Trials.

Brain sciences
August 18, 2024
Gianmarco Salvetti et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of single-dose and two-dose psilocybin administration on depressive symptom severity in patients with MDD or TRD.

Results Summary

Psilocybin significantly reduced depressive symptoms in patients with MDD or TRD, with two-dose administration sometimes producing more pronounced and lasting effects, though the exact reason for this difference remains unclear.

Population

Patients with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) or treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Effective Dosage

Single-dose and two-dose psilocybin treatments (specific amounts not provided).

Duration

Not specified.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Psilocybin
decrease
depressive symptoms severity
patients with primary MDD or TRD
-
is highly effective in reducing
#1
single-dose psilocybin treatments
decrease
depressive symptoms severity
patients with a primary diagnosis of MDD or TRD
-
significantly reduced
#2
two-dose psilocybin treatments
decrease
depressive symptoms severity
patients with a primary diagnosis of MDD or TRD
-
significantly reduced
#3
two-dose psilocybin administration
decrease
depressive symptoms severity
-
-
yielding more pronounced and lasting effects
#4
Abstract

Current pharmacological treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) are often only partially effective, with many patients experiencing no significant benefit, leading to treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Psilocybin, a classical serotonergic psychedelic, has emerged as a notable emerging treatment for such disorders. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize and discuss the most recent evidence about the therapeutic effects of single-dose and two-dose psilocybin administration on the severity of depressive symptoms, as well as compare the efficacy of these interventions among patients with a primary diagnosis of MDD or TRD. Articles were collected from EBSCOhost and PubMed following the PRISMA guidelines, yielding 425 articles with 138 duplicates. After screening 287 records, 12 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. A quantitative analysis of the studies indicates that psilocybin is highly effective in reducing depressive symptoms severity among patients with primary MDD or TRD. Both single-dose and two-dose psilocybin treatments significantly reduced depressive symptoms severity, with two-dose administration sometimes yielding more pronounced and lasting effects. However, it is unclear if this was solely due to dosage or other factors. Future research should include standardized trials comparing these dosing strategies to better inform clinical practice.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality78/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations3
Citations/Year3.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.73
Normalized Score0.70
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