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Evidence versus expectancy: the development of psilocybin therapy
1Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.
Bjpsych Bulletin
|May 29, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin therapy shows promise for treatment-resistant depression, but challenges remain in distinguishing drug effects from expectancy effects. Further research is needed to measure these factors in clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Modern research on psilocybin therapy has advanced over 25 years.
- Psilocybin therapy integrates dosing with psychoeducation, support, and integration.
- Early clinical trials suggest promise, especially for treatment-resistant depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the clinical development of psilocybin therapy.
- To discuss the challenges and opportunities in psilocybin research.
- To highlight the need to disambiguate drug and expectancy effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of ongoing clinical development of psilocybin therapy.
- Discussion of challenges including masking and expectancy effects.
- Emphasis on the need for routine measurement of masking and expectancy.
Main Results:
- Early phase clinical trial evidence for psilocybin therapy is promising.
- Treatment-resistant depression is a key area of focus.
- Masking and expectancy effects may influence therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Disentangling drug effects from expectancy effects is crucial for psilocybin therapy development.
- Measuring masking and expectancy in trials is an opportunity for psychiatric research.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of change in psilocybin therapy.
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