Psilocybin for Suicidality

16 papers and 4 clinical trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for suicidality.

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

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Indication700,000 deaths annually worldwide.

Suicidality

Suicidality encompasses a spectrum of suicidal thoughts and behaviours, significantly impacting individuals globally. Recent research into psychedelics, particularly ketamine and ayahuasca, shows promise in rapidly alleviating suicidal ideation associated with mental health disorders.

Full Suicidality profile

Academic Research

16 papers
Open Accessindividual

An open-label, dose-escalation trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for bipolar 2 depression

In an open-label, single-arm dose-escalation pilot (n=14) of psilocybin-assisted therapy for bipolar II depression, psilocybin (10 mg, with 25 mg if needed) was generally well tolerated and produced significant, sustained reductions in depressive symptoms and improved quality of life up to 90 days, with adverse events (including transient anxiety, nausea, headache and three notable psychiatric events) broadly comparable to other psilocybin studies. The authors conclude that randomised, placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy and refine dosing protocols in this vulnerable population.

Published
Journal
OSF Preprints
Authors
Bradley, E. R., Downey, A. E., Fernandes-Osterhold, G., Fredenburg, L., Gard, D. E., Krystal, J. H., Llerena, K., Nerayo, J., Nielsen, B., O'Donovan, A., Sakai, K., Szigeti, B., Woolley, J. D.
Open Accessindividual

Comparing Antidepressant Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Individuals That Were Unmedicated at Initial Screening Versus Individuals Discontinuing Medications for Study Participation

In an open‑label trial of 27 treatment‑resistant depression patients given a single 25 mg psilocybin dose with psychotherapy, those who had discontinued antidepressants before treatment showed comparable reductions in clinician‑rated and self‑reported depression, anxiety and suicidality to patients unmedicated at screening. Both groups experienced clinically significant improvements and similar intensity of psychedelic experience, suggesting medication tapering did not alter short‑term antidepressant effects in this sample.

Published
Journal
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Authors
Blainey, M. G., Brudner, R. M., Chisamore, N., Doyle, Z., Johnson, D., Kaczmarek, E., McIntyre, R. S., Meshkat, S., Riva-Cambrin, J., Rosenblat, J. D., Weiglein, G.
Open Accessindividual

Psilocybin-Assisted Group Psychotherapy + Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Frontline Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Related Depression and Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This randomised controlled trial in 25 frontline physicians and nurses found that adding group psilocybin‑assisted psychotherapy (25 mg) to an 8‑week MBSR curriculum produced larger reductions in depressive symptoms at two weeks and greater improvements on burnout subscales, demoralisation and connectedness than MBSR alone. The intervention was well tolerated (only grade 1–2 adverse events, no serious AEs), suggesting that combining psilocybin with mindfulness training may be a promising treatment for COVID‑19‑related depression and burnout in healthcare providers.

Published
Journal
PLOS Medicine
Authors
Byrne, K., Garland, E. L., Hendrick, J., Lewis, B. R., Odette, M., Wu, C.
Paywallmeta

Adverse Events in Studies of Classic Psychedelics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta‑analysis of 214 studies (3,504 participants with analysable adverse‑event data) found that high‑dose classic psychedelics were generally well tolerated in clinical/research settings, with serious adverse events occurring mainly in ~4% of participants who had preexisting neuropsychiatric disorders and no reports in contemporary trials of suicide, persistent psychotic disorder or hallucinogen‑persisting perception disorder. Common non‑serious adverse events (headache, anxiety, nausea, fatigue, dizziness) had similar prevalences for psilocybin and LSD, but substantial heterogeneity and limited systematic adverse‑event monitoring across studies highlight the need for improved pharmacovigilance.

Published
Journal
JAMA Psychiatry
Authors
Graziosi, M., Hinkle, J. T., Nayak, S., Yaden, D. B.
Open Accessindividual

Single-Dose Synthetic Psilocybin With Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Type II Major Depressive Episodes

In an open‑label, non‑randomised 12‑week trial of 15 patients with treatment‑resistant bipolar II depression, a single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin plus psychotherapy produced large, rapid and sustained reductions in depressive symptoms (mean MADRS change −24 points at 3 weeks; 12/15 responders, 11/15 remissions) without significant increases in mania or suicidality. These preliminary results suggest psilocybin may be an effective and safe acute treatment for bipolar II depression and merit confirmation in larger randomised controlled trials.

Published
Journal
JAMA Psychiatry
Authors
Aaronson, S. T., LaPratt, J., Lauterbach, M., Miller, T., Sackeim, H. A., Shoultz, A., Suppes, T., Swartz, K., van der Vaart, A.
Paywallindividual

Psilocybin-assisted group therapy in patients with cancer diagnosed with a major depressive disorder

In a phase 2 open‑label trial, a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin given in a group therapy setting with one‑to‑one therapist support was safe and feasible in 30 patients with cancer and major depressive disorder, with no psilocybin‑related serious adverse events. The treatment produced a large reduction in depressive symptoms (mean 19.1‑point decrease; 80% sustained response; 50% remission at week 1 maintained through 8 weeks), suggesting clinical efficacy warranting further study.

Published
Journal
Cancer
Authors
Agrawal, M., Ameli, R., Bates, M., Beaussant, Y., Honstein, H., Jenkins, B., Richards, B. D., Richards, W. A., Roddy, K., Schor, N., Shnayder, S., Stevens, N., Thambi, P.

Clinical Trials

4 trials

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