Control Group Outcomes in Trials of Psilocybin, SSRIs, or Esketamine for Depression

Are there differences in depression outcomes among patients who receive control treatments in trials of psilocybin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or esketamine for depression?In this meta-analysis of 17 acute-phase randomized clinical trials of psilocybin (n = 373), esketamine (n = 573), or SSRIs (n = 4014), patients receiving control treatments in psilocybin trials had significantly worse depression outcomes compared with those receiving control treatments in trials of esketamine or SSRIs. There were larger between-treatment differences for psilocybin than for esketamine or SSRIs.The poor control treatment outcomes in psilocybin trials suggest that it may not be as broadly effective for depression as estimated.

Corresponding Author: Fredrik Hieronymus, MD, PhD, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Box 431, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden (fredrik.hieronymus@neuro.gu.se).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.