Date of Award
Spring 2020
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Kevin Basile, MD, PT
Abstract
Introduction: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder associated with depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, etc. and attributes to suicide rates. Currently, SSRIs are the first-line drug treatment for MDD. However, some individuals do not respond to those medications, have adverse effects, or cannot wait for their effects to peak. Due to these downsides of current medications or those with treatment-resistant depression, alternatives need to be considered. Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug found in certain mushrooms. Research on psilocybin began in the 1960s. Recently, researchers have conducted controlled experiments to see the potential benefits of psilocybin in various other health conditions. There is potential for psilocybin to be used to treat depression based upon minimal previous research. Therefore, this paper poses the important clinical question: in adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder [P], is psilocybin [I] more effective than standard SSRIs [C] in decreasing the frequency of depressive episodes [O]?
Methods: A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Biomedical Reference Collection, and Google Scholar in November 2018. A total of seven articles were selected based on their publication date, relevance, and intervention technique. The study and results of those articles were analyzed, compared, and discussed in this paper.
Results: Based on the evidence shown in collected literature, there is statistically significant evidence to support the use of psilocybin to treat depression. Results demonstrated individuals with depression who used psilocybin had a significant decrease in their perceived depressive symptoms, depressive scale scores, and presence of suicidal ideations. Only three of the studies were control trials, and only one provides long-term follow-up data, but they all do demonstrate positive results.
Discussion: Statistically significant results were found in each article. However, the lack of double-blinded studies and some low statistical power are not ideal. The valid data analyses support the reliability of the statistically significant results, but various types of bias are present. The efficacy of psilocybin as treatment for MDD can be supported, but not yet confirmed. There were no negative outcomes related to psilocybin use and many positive effects were demonstrated on symptoms of depression, further research on the topic is strongly advised.
Conclusion: Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic drug that is currently illegal, and therefore, cannot be used clinically to treat depressive disorders. However, all of the research done to examine the effects of psilocybin on depressive symptoms has been positive and demonstrates there may be potential for it to be used as a treatment option. Currently SSRIs and other classes of drugs are used as antidepressants, but they have negative side effects and a require a much longer treatment time before their benefits are seen. This research demonstrates that psilocybin’s benefits are almost immediate and last for months. More research on using psilocybin as a treatment option for MDD should be highly encouraged.
Recommended Citation
Worden, Krista, "The Efficacy of Psilocybin Compared to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in the Treatment of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder" (2020). Capstone Showcase. 60.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2020/pa/60
Additional Files
Worden Poster Presentation.mp4 (100887 kB)Presentation
Worden PICO References.pdf (13 kB)
References
The Efficacy of Psilocybin Compared to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in the Treatment of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder
Introduction: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder associated with depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, etc. and attributes to suicide rates. Currently, SSRIs are the first-line drug treatment for MDD. However, some individuals do not respond to those medications, have adverse effects, or cannot wait for their effects to peak. Due to these downsides of current medications or those with treatment-resistant depression, alternatives need to be considered. Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug found in certain mushrooms. Research on psilocybin began in the 1960s. Recently, researchers have conducted controlled experiments to see the potential benefits of psilocybin in various other health conditions. There is potential for psilocybin to be used to treat depression based upon minimal previous research. Therefore, this paper poses the important clinical question: in adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder [P], is psilocybin [I] more effective than standard SSRIs [C] in decreasing the frequency of depressive episodes [O]?
Methods: A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Biomedical Reference Collection, and Google Scholar in November 2018. A total of seven articles were selected based on their publication date, relevance, and intervention technique. The study and results of those articles were analyzed, compared, and discussed in this paper.
Results: Based on the evidence shown in collected literature, there is statistically significant evidence to support the use of psilocybin to treat depression. Results demonstrated individuals with depression who used psilocybin had a significant decrease in their perceived depressive symptoms, depressive scale scores, and presence of suicidal ideations. Only three of the studies were control trials, and only one provides long-term follow-up data, but they all do demonstrate positive results.
Discussion: Statistically significant results were found in each article. However, the lack of double-blinded studies and some low statistical power are not ideal. The valid data analyses support the reliability of the statistically significant results, but various types of bias are present. The efficacy of psilocybin as treatment for MDD can be supported, but not yet confirmed. There were no negative outcomes related to psilocybin use and many positive effects were demonstrated on symptoms of depression, further research on the topic is strongly advised.
Conclusion: Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic drug that is currently illegal, and therefore, cannot be used clinically to treat depressive disorders. However, all of the research done to examine the effects of psilocybin on depressive symptoms has been positive and demonstrates there may be potential for it to be used as a treatment option. Currently SSRIs and other classes of drugs are used as antidepressants, but they have negative side effects and a require a much longer treatment time before their benefits are seen. This research demonstrates that psilocybin’s benefits are almost immediate and last for months. More research on using psilocybin as a treatment option for MDD should be highly encouraged.