A clinical trial conducted by Khyber Medical University (KMU) at the Psychiatry Department of Hayatabad Medical Complex has found that psilocybin-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly improves symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The study suggests that combining psilocybin therapy with CBT may provide better outcomes than conventional treatment alone.
The randomized controlled trial enrolled 67 patients with depression, who were divided into four treatment groups: standard SSRI medication, CBT, psilocybin therapy, and psilocybin combined with CBT. Researchers reported that all active treatment groups showed improvement, with the psilocybin-assisted CBT group experiencing the greatest reduction in depression scores and the largest increase in serum oxytocin levels.
During the study, participants receiving psilocybin underwent carefully monitored treatment sessions in a controlled clinical setting under the supervision of trained healthcare professionals. Their vital signs and mental well-being were closely observed throughout the sessions to ensure safety.
Researchers said the findings indicate that integrating psilocybin with psychological therapy may offer a promising approach for patients who do not respond adequately to existing antidepressant treatments. However, experts also note that psilocybin therapy remains an area of active research and requires further large-scale clinical studies and regulatory evaluation before widespread clinical use.
