Cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe depression: exploratory findings from a decision analytic model

[Psychedelics in psychiatry: an open debate]

The application of psychedelics in psychiatry and psychotherapy is increasingly the subject of scientific evaluation and discussion in national and international professional and general society, and, internationally, has already been partly applied in the clinical setting. The manuscript provides a basic description of the state of the art regarding evidence and clinical issues; law, ethics and economics are addressed; therapeutic qualification of potential users and a potentially clinical embedding in psychiatry are discussed, taking into consideration current challenges. Thus, the discussion will cover the circumstances under which the application of psychedelics might have a potential to broaden the spectrum of treatments in certain psychiatric conditions, particularly in the context of chronicity and treatment resistance to current methods. However, basic and critical issues have to be clarified before eventual implementation.

Lost in translation? Qualitative interviews with Australian psychedelic-assisted therapy trial clinicians

BACKGROUND

Policy changes in Australia mean that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is now available to consumers outside of clinical trials. Yet, the regulatory frameworks guiding the practice of PAT are underdeveloped, and the evidence base for guiding clinical practice is diverse and emerging, resulting in anticipated challenges in translation to community practice. Mental health clinicians who have experience delivering PAT in clinical trials are likely to be at the forefront of community practice and training, and influential in discussions about implementation. Yet little is known of their perspectives, preferences, and practices associated with the implementation of PAT.

METHOD

Interviews with 11 clinicians working on clinical trials of PAT were thematically analysed.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified, describing the therapeutic frames that interviewees used to understand PAT and shaped their views on its interface with the mental health system: (1) therapeutic eclecticism, (2) enhanced reflexivity for PAT providers, (3) legitimisation of extra-medical perspectives in mental health, and (4) what might be lost in translation?

CONCLUSION

We argue that clinicians' perspectives on PAT are reflective of existing tensions between a medical model of mental health care and other psychosocial, relational models. Therapists' ideals for the delivery of PAT can be conceptualised as a sort of 'enhanced care' approach, but workforce development and economic constraints are likely to challenge the accessible and impactful translation of this vision.

Amid magic and menace: psychiatrists' attitudes to psilocybin therapy

OBJECTIVES

Understanding variations in knowledge and attitudes of psychiatrists to psilocybin therapy is important for the collective discourse about the potential impact on clinical practice and public health in Ireland.

METHODS

A 28-item questionnaire was designed based on previous studies and distributed to psychiatrists in Ireland via online mailing lists and at in-person academic events.

RESULTS

151 psychiatrists completed the questionnaire (73.3% were under 40 years of age, 76.0% were trainees, and 49.0% were female). In the total sample, 81.5% agreed that psilocybin therapy shows promise in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and 86.8% supported funding research, 86.8% would be willing to refer a patient if it was licensed and indicated, and 78.1% would consider the treatment for themselves, if indicated. Conversely, 6.6% agreed that psilocybin therapy was unsafe even under medical supervision, and 21.9% thought it was potentially addictive. 15.9% of the total sample reported at least one concern including, lack of robust evidence, long-term effectiveness, superiority to current interventions, potential harmful effects, cost and accessibility, and impartiality. Less than half of respondents felt knowledgeable (40.0%) and 9.9% felt adequately prepared to participate in psilocybin therapy. Consultant psychiatrists trended towards less optimism for a potential role in bipolar depression and emotionally unstable personality disorder compared to trainee psychiatrists.

CONCLUSION

Overall psychiatrists in Ireland held positive attitudes towards psilocybin therapy. However, there was a lack of knowledge evident. Addressing the knowledge gap and aligning with the best available evidence will be key if psychedelic therapy is to prevail in a clinical setting.

Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer

Several recent studies have investigated psilocybin as a novel therapeutic compound for the treatment of existential distress in patients with cancer, demonstrating persistent, positive effects on mood. This editorial discusses two articles in the current issue of Cancer that report findings of a group‐based psilocybin‐assisted intervention for treatment of depression in patients diagnosed with cancer.

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment resistant depression: A randomized clinical trial evaluating repeated doses of psilocybin

BACKGROUND

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has been associated with antidepressant effects. Trials to date have typically excluded participants with complex presentations. Our aim was to determine the feasibility of PAP in a complex population, including high levels of treatment resistance in major depressive and bipolar disorder and patients with baseline suicidality and significant comorbidity. We also evaluated flexible repeated doses over a 6-month period.

METHODS

Adults with treatment-resistant depression as part of major depressive or bipolar II disorder without psychosis or a substance use disorder were eligible to participate. Subjects were randomized to immediate treatment or waitlist control, with all eventually receiving PAP. Participants had one, two, or three psilocybin sessions with a fixed dose of 25 mg. Each dose was accompanied by preparation and integration psychotherapy sessions. Acceptability, safety, tolerability, and efficacy were evaluated (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05029466).

FINDINGS

Participants were randomized to immediate treatment (n = 16) or delayed treatment (n = 14). 29/30 were retained to the week-2 primary endpoint. Adverse events were transient, with no serious adverse events. Greater reductions in depression severity as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were observed in the immediate treatment arm compared to the waitlist period arm with a large hedge's g effect size of 1.07 (p < 0.01). Repeated doses were associated with further reductions in MADRS scores compared to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

PAP was feasible in complex patients with preliminary antidepressant efficacy and adequate safety and tolerability. Repeated doses were associated with greater reductions in depression severity.

FUNDING

This work was funded by Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation (BCDF), Usona, and Braxia Scientific.