Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41677823›Full record

SynthesisEuropean archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience2026

Therapeutic effects of psilocybin in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring dose effects.

Ziping He, Yijie Wang, Jiemin Chen, Junzhe Cheng, Yuxin Feng, Shuliang Niu, Jie Yan

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ziping HeDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Yijie WangClinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Jiemin ChenSchool of nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Junzhe ChengDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Yuxin FengClinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Shuliang NiuDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
Jie YanDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China. wills212156@csu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6877-5193

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang 2024D01C125
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeveral recent trials indicate positive effects of psilocybin in patients with major depressive disorder. However, questions need to be addressed regarding the relationship between dosage and therapeutic outcomes, such as the recommended dose range and frequency for optimal practice as well as the dose-dependent adverse effects.

objective(1) to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of psilocybin on major depression; (2) to explore a suitable dosing regimen for psilocybin treatment concerning both dose and frequency.

methodsFour databases (Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Pubmed, Web of Science) were searched up to February 23, 2024, to include primary studies evaluating the use of psilocybin in adults presenting major depressive disorder. All primary studies evaluating psilocybin in adults diagnosed with MDD were included. Case series, animal research, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews were excluded. The primary outcomes assessed were changes in depression scores, response rates, remission rates, and safety and tolerability profiles. Two reviewers performed study selection and data extraction independently based on the prepared criteria. The quality and potential risk of bias in each trial were evaluated using criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook. The review was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD420251115865).

resultsSeven trials including 464 participants were identified (one meeting abstract included). The overall quality of included trials is moderate, as assessed with Cochrane Handbook. Psilocybin presented significant effects in treating major depression with safety and tolerability. In a certain range, the higher dose and frequency resulted in a better effect. Our findings indicate the dose regimen of 35-50 mg/70kg and double-dosing may be a promising dosing strategy.

conclusionThe results support the potential application of psilocybin for treating major depressive disorder. Given that the included trials are limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up periods, further clinical studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to fully assess the efficacy and safety of high-dose psilocybin.

Indexed as

HallucinogensMajor Depressive DisorderOutcome Assessment, Health CarePsilocybinDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansHallucinogensPsilocybinDose-response relationshipMajor depressive disorderMeta-analysisPsilocybin

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.