Psychedelic Therapy for Depression
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression are among the most studied conditions in psychedelic medicine. Psilocybin has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for treatment-resistant depression, with COMPASS Pathways running Phase 3 trials and ketamine already approved as Spravato. Clinical evidence points to rapid, durable antidepressant effects — often after just one to three sessions.
Research suggests psychedelics work differently than conventional antidepressants: rather than requiring daily dosing to maintain effects, psilocybin and ketamine appear to trigger neuroplasticity and break rigid thought patterns associated with depression, with benefits lasting weeks to months after a single session.
Clinical Trials
A Phase 3 Trial of MM120 for Major Depressive Disorder (Emerge)
Definium Therapeutics US, Inc.
Propofol-Enhanced Assessment of Ketamine for Chronic Pain and Depression
Stanford University
Integrating Ketamine Effects on Neuronal Molecular Signatures and the Brain Functional and Structural Connectome
Massachusetts General Hospital
Single-dose Ketamine Treatment to Improve Depression in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Predictors of Intravenous Ketamine Response in TRD
Abraham Nunes
Companies & Research
Organizations with active depression research programs