In life-threatening illness, anxiety and depression eased and held
What they did
An Australian team randomised thirty-five patients facing life-threatening illness to 25mg psilocybin or 100mg niacin as an active placebo, each with psychotherapy, and followed them for twenty-six weeks.
What they found
Psilocybin produced significantly greater reductions in state anxiety and depression at six to seven weeks, with gains sustained at twenty-six weeks and no serious adverse events.
Worth knowing
The reported effect sizes are unusually large, which in a sample of thirty-five usually means the confidence intervals are wide. Worth watching for replication rather than treating as settled.
Ross et al. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression and anxiety associated with life threatening illness. General Hospital Psychiatry, 2025.
Read the sourceKeep reading
end of lifeFifty-one cancer patients, and six months of reliefend of lifePsilocybin rapidly reduced anxiety and depression in cancer patientslong-termFour and a half years after one sessionThe durability findings here are the ones most often quoted out of context. Read the follow-up periods before you trust a headline about them.
For education, not medical advice. Every write-up links back to the original source.
Nothing here is a claim that our products treat, cure or prevent any condition. Talk to a doctor before changing anything about your health.