Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression

Carhart-Harris R, Giribaldi B, Watts R, et al. · New England Journal of Medicine, 2021

This phase 2 double-blind trial at Imperial College London compared psilocybin with escitalopram, a common SSRI antidepressant, in 59 adults with long-standing moderate to severe depression. One group received two 25 mg psilocybin doses three weeks apart plus daily placebo pills; the other received two 1 mg doses plus six weeks of escitalopram. Everyone received psychological support. In this study, the main depression measure at six weeks did not differ significantly between groups. Some secondary measures, such as remission rates, leaned toward psilocybin, but these were not corrected for multiple comparisons. The authors state that larger and longer trials are needed, which is the key limitation. Psilocybin remains a Schedule I substance under US federal law, and regulated access currently exists only through state programs in Oregon and Colorado; it is not available in New Jersey.

Our summaries describe what each study found. They are not medical advice, and the practices at Halcyon are not a treatment for any condition.