All studies
Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study
Key finding
All 12 patients showed reduced depression scores at one week; the majority maintained meaningful improvement at three months, suggesting feasibility and a strong signal worth larger controlled testing.
- Institution
- Imperial College London
- Design
- Open-label feasibility study (no control group)
- Sample size
- 12 participants
- Intervention
- Two psilocybin doses (10 mg then 25 mg) one week apart
- Year
- 2016
- Condition
- Treatment-resistant depression
Limitations
Very small, open-label, no control group or blinding, high expectancy effects — a feasibility signal, not proof of efficacy.
The first modern trial of psilocybin specifically for treatment-resistant depression. Though small and uncontrolled, it generated the signal that motivated the larger randomized trials that followed.
Read the primary source Our breakdown: Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression: What the Research Actually Shows
Summary written by MMI Editorial for clarity. Always consult the primary source for full methodology and results. Confidence rating reflects our assessment of evidence strength.