Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025
08:20
MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
13.9K
Single-Dose Synthetic Psilocybin With Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Type II Major Depressive
Scott T Aaronson1,2, Andrew van der Vaart2, Tammy Miller1
1Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Treatment, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, Maryland.
JAMA Psychiatry
|December 6, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin shows promise for treating Bipolar II Disorder (BDII) depression. A single dose significantly improved depressive symptoms and quality of life in patients, with no adverse effects on mania or suicidality.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Bipolar II Disorder (BDII) is characterized by debilitating depressive episodes.
- Existing treatments for BDII depression are often insufficient.
- Psilocybin demonstrates rapid antidepressant effects but lacks investigation in bipolar depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in patients diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder (BDII) experiencing a current depressive episode.
Main Methods:
- An open-label, nonrandomized trial involving 15 participants with BDII and treatment-resistant depression.
- Participants received a single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin, preceded and followed by psychotherapy.
- Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and other measures over 12 weeks.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in MADRS scores were observed at 3 weeks and sustained through 12 weeks post-treatment (P < .001).
- 12 participants met criteria for depression response and remission at study endpoint.
- Improvements were also noted in quality of life and self-rated depressive symptoms, with no significant increase in mania or suicidality scores.
Conclusions:
- Psilocybin, when combined with psychotherapy, appears to be a safe and effective treatment for Bipolar II Disorder (BDII) depression.
- These findings support further research into psychedelic-assisted therapies for this patient population.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
27
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
27
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
248
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
248
01:24Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
137
Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
137
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
44
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
44
01:28Psychotherapy
107
Psychotherapy is a versatile, nonmedical approach aimed at helping individuals address emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal issues to enhance their overall well-being. It can involve one-on-one sessions, couples counseling, or small group discussions with a therapist. The therapeutic process includes various techniques such as open discussion, interpretation of thoughts and behaviors, active listening, positive reinforcement, and role modeling. Psychotherapy aims to support individuals in...
107
01:29Psychodynamic Therapy
68
Psychodynamic therapies emphasize the exploration of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as fundamental contributors to psychological difficulties. These therapies, deeply rooted in Freud's psychoanalytic theory, aim to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, granting individuals insights that promote emotional and behavioral healing. Contemporary psychodynamic approaches have evolved, integrating a broader range of influences and methodologies while still valuing the...
68