Single-Dose Psilocybin Promising for Resistant Depression
Liam Davenport
April 06, 2023
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PARIS — A single 25-mg dose of a synthetic formulation of psilocybin appears to improve the core symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a new analysis of phase 2 trial data suggests.
Known as COMP360, the synthetic agent, a proprietary, purified form of psilocybin, improved symptoms related to mood and anhedonia while leaving aspects such as appetite and weight changes unaffected, report investigators led by Guy Goodwin, PhD, emeritus professor of psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK, and chief medical officer, COMPASS Pathways.
The study was presented here at the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) 2023 Congress.
100 Million Affected
Affecting up to 100 million people globally, TRD is "not an official diagnosis," although it is often defined as the failure to elicit a response with at least two antidepressant treatments, said Goodwin.
Compared to their counterparts with non-TRD, those with TRD experience higher relapse rates, higher rates of suicidal behavior, and more residual symptoms even when they do respond to treatment.
Previous results from the study known as P-TRD indicated that a single 25-mg dose of COMP360 significantly reduced depression scores for up to 12 weeks when given along with psychological support, although a later analysis suggested the effect subsequently dropped off.
The vast majority of the patients in the trial were naive to psychedelics, and so, Goodwin explained, they undergo a preparation phase during which they receive psychoeducation and have at least two visits with a therapist, who then stays with them during administration of the drug to offer support if they experience psychological distress.
Following the psilocybin session, participants go through a process known as integration, which involves two sessions with a therapist within 2 weeks.
