Psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder in a public healthcare setting: a randomized controlled trial
Nature Medicine, Published online: 06 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04541-0 In a publicly funded trial undertaken in the NHS in England, 60 adults with treatment-resistant major depression received psilocybin or placebo alongside standardized psychological support, with psilocybin showing significant improvements in depression symptoms, good tolerability and support for further research in…
In a randomized controlled trial conducted in an NHS setting in England, psilocybin-assisted therapy showed promise in treating treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD). Sixty participants were randomly assigned to either the psilocybin or placebo group, with balanced demographics. After a 6-week follow-up, the psilocybin group exhibited a significant reduction in depression severity on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) compared to the placebo group.
No serious adverse events were reported in either group, indicating the potential for psilocybin-assisted therapy to provide an effective and safe treatment option for those with TRD who have not responded to traditional antidepressant treatments.
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