A single dose of psilocybin paired with psychotherapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients, with many maintaining improvements for two years, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer.
Dried psilocybin mushrooms.
The phase 2 trial followed 30 cancer patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder who received a 25 mg dose of psilocybin combined with psychological support in a community clinical setting. Two years after treatment, 53.6% of participants still showed a significant reduction in depression symptoms, with an average drop of 15 points on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale.
The study also found lasting improvements in anxiety, with 46.4% experiencing a meaningful decrease in symptoms, and 42.9% maintaining those gains over the two-year period, as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.
Researchers say the findings highlight psilocybin’s potential as a fast-acting and durable treatment option for mental health issues in cancer patients—offering an alternative to traditional antidepressants that often require continuous use and have mixed results.
The study’s authors recommend further research to validate these results and explore psilocybin’s role in broader psychiatric care.
