- Study published in “JAMA Psychiatry” reveals significant benefits of psilocybin for patients with major depression
- Most participants reported improvements; half experienced remission after only four weeks
- As an early entrant in the field, Cybin looks well placed to capitalize on growing traction that psychedelics gain as potential treatment of mental health conditions
Only two doses of psilocybin accompanied with psychotherapy may lead to significant reductions in depressive symptoms in adults with major depression, according to recent research conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine and published in “JAMA Psychiatry” (https://ibn.fm/AM1Ww). As a leading life sciences company focused on psychedelic drug development, Cybin (NEO: CYBN) is set to capitalize on the growing body of research indicating the significant role this compound could play in alleviating symptoms of major depression.
This most recent study came after Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists first found in 2016 that psilocybin treatment, coupled with psychological support, considerably eased existential anxiety and depression in people with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. The previous research sparked interest in further exploration of the potential of psilocybin to treat major mental health disorders, which lead to conclusions that this compound could potentially help a much wider population.
As a result, the world-renowned research center continued to investigate psilocybin applications in this field. Part of these scientific efforts are included in the latest study, which covered 24 participants with a documented history of persisting symptoms of depression over approximately two years before enrolling in the study.
For the study, participants were required to taper off any antidepressants under medical supervision to ensure the safety of this experimental treatment. All participants were given two doses of psilocybin two weeks apart, but to disentangle the impact of psilocybin, researchers split the participants into two groups: one group received the psilocybin treatment immediately after enrollment, and the other group received the same treatment after an eight-week delay.
To measure this experimental treatment’s impact, participants were assessed on the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale three times: at the beginning of the study and one week and four weeks after the treatment was completed. This scale is a standard depression assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of depression in patients suffering from this widespread mental health condition.
The findings revealed that most participants demonstrated a substantial decrease in their symptoms, and almost half were in remission from depression at follow-up. For example, one week and four weeks after treatment, the average depression scale score dropped from an initial 23 to 8. Four weeks after the treatment, 54% of participants were considered in remission. Participants in the delayed group did not show decreases in their symptoms before receiving the psilocybin treatment.
“The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” reported Alan Davis, PhD., adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
These results confirm that Cybin, a company committed to becoming one of the first life sciences companies to develop a fully approved psilocybin product targeting depression, is on the right track. CYBN is intent on providing solutions to the more than 17 million people in the United States and 300 million people worldwide who suffer from depression. The company has been focusing its efforts on psychedelic drug development and unique delivery mechanisms and protocols that target psychiatric and neurological conditions.
Long the subject of skepticism and stigma, psilocybin has recently become a focus for a number of academic institutions and companies hoping to capitalize on the momentum this compound is building both in scientific and commercial space. Cybin Inc. is leading the charge.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Cybin.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CYBN are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN
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