Assessing the effects of methodological differences on outcomes in the use of psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders : A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Classical psychedelics are a group of drugs which act as agonists on the serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) receptor. Evidence suggests they may have a uniquely rapid and enduring positive effect on mood. However, marked heterogeneity between methodological designs in this emerging field remains a significant concern.

AIMS: To determine how differences in the type of psychedelic agent used and the number of dosing sessions administered affect subjects' depression and anxiety outcomes and adverse drug reactions (ADR).

METHODS: This review collected and screened 1591 records from the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases for clinical trials reporting objective data on mood for subjects with a known anxiety or depression.

RESULTS: After screening, nine clinical trials met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of these studies showed significant, large positive effect sizes for measures of anxiety (Cohen's d = 1.26) and depression (Cohen's d = 1.38) overall. These positive effects were also significant at acute (⩽1 week) and extended (>1 week) time points. No significant differences were observed between trials using different psychedelic agents (psilocybin, ayahuasca or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)), however, a significant difference was observed in favour of trials with multiple dosing sessions. No serious ADR were reported.

CONCLUSION: Psilocybin, ayahuasca and LSD all appear to be effective and relatively safe agents capable of producing rapid and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression. Moreover, the findings of the present analysis suggest that they may show a greater efficacy when given to patients over multiple sessions as compared to the more common single session used in many of the existing trials.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:36

Enthalten in:

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) - 36(2022), 1 vom: 22. Jan., Seite 20-30

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Leger, Robert F [VerfasserIn]
Unterwald, Ellen M [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

2RV7212BP0
8NA5SWF92O
Anxiety
Ayahuasca
Depression
Hallucinogens
Journal Article
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Lysergic acid diethylamide
Meta-Analysis
Mood disorders
Psilocybin
Psychedelics
Serotonergic hallucinogens
Systematic Review

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 03.03.2022

Date Revised 03.03.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1177/02698811211044688

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM330616862