Investigators: Roland Griffiths PhD, William Richards PhD, Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., Una McCann, M.D.
Sponsor: Heffter Research Institute, Riverstyx Foundation
Contact: Roland Griffiths, PhD
Status: Completed and Published
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367557/
Our study with cancer patients has since been completed, with the above link corresponding to the published results for such.
Summary: This study showed that psilocybin produced substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer, and that mystical-type experiences on session days mediated the effect of psilocybin dose on therapeutic outcomes. Participants, staff, and community observers rated participant moods, attitudes, and behaviors throughout the study. High-dose psilocybin produced large decreases in clinician- and self-rated measures of depressed mood and anxiety, along with increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism, and decreases in death anxiety. At 6-month follow-up, these changes were sustained, with about 80% of participants continuing to show clinically significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety. Study participants attributed improvements in attitudes about life/self, mood, relationships, and spirituality to the high-dose experience, with >80% endorsing moderately or greater increased well-being/life satisfaction, which was further supported by community observer ratings showing corresponding changes.
