Psychedelic Therapy Offers Hope for Long-Term Relief

Quick Smiles:

• Psilocybin therapy shows lasting remission in major depression after five years.
• Most participants report ongoing improvements in wellbeing and life satisfaction.
• Minimal adverse effects were found, with sustained positive outcomes.

Patients with clinical depression treated with psilocybin-assisted therapy are experiencing lasting relief, with nearly two-thirds still free from symptoms five years after their initial treatment, according to new research.

The recent study followed participants from a 2021 clinical trial, showing that 67% remained in remission at the five-year mark, even surpassing earlier results from the one-year follow-up.

“We also saw that across the board, anxiety, depression, global functioning, self-reported depression, all of these measures were showing the same signal of continued improvement up to five years later,” said Professor Alan Davis from Ohio State University.

Of 24 original participants, 18 took part in the five-year follow-up, completing comprehensive assessments of their mental health, and many described ongoing improvements in how they manage life’s challenges.

Professor Davis explained, “Five years later, most people continued to view this treatment as safe, meaningful, important, and something that catalyzed an ongoing betterment of their life.”

Even after accounting for worst-case scenarios among non-respondents, the study found significant reductions in depression symptoms and meaningful changes in attitudes toward their mental health.

Some participants found additional therapies beneficial, while others reported that experiences outside clinical settings were less impactful without professional support.

The research team acknowledges the small sample size but emphasizes these results highlight the remarkable durability and positive impact of psilocybin-assisted therapy for those with treatment-resistant depression.

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