People with severe treatment-resistant depression—those who don’t respond to five or more treatments—often struggle for years, cycling through medications and therapies that fail to provide relief. Standard treatments, including neuromodulation techniques like deep brain stimulation, have limited success and carry considerable risks. A recent study found that a single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, provided rapid and lasting relief for people with treatment-resistant depression.

Researchers conducted a 12-week, open-label trial involving 12 adults with severe treatment-resistant depression. Participants received a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin and met with therapists before, during, and after the dosing session to help process their experiences. Using a standard depression symptom scale, researchers assessed changes in depression severity at three weeks, with additional assessments up to 12 weeks.

By week three, the participants' depressive symptoms had dropped markedly, with an average reduction in severity of nearly 16 points on a standard scale. These improvements persisted through week 12. However, participants with post-traumatic stress disorder experienced less benefit, indicating that having more than one neuropsychiatric condition may influence treatment response.

This was a small study, but the findings suggest that psilocybin, combined with psychological support, could be a powerful tool for people with severe treatment-resistant depression. Larger studies may yield more conclusive results. Learn more about psilocybin in this episode featuring the late Dr. Roland Griffiths.