Psilocybin dose reduces depression in UK's first publicly funded trial

A single dose of psilocybin significantly reduced depression in a UK randomized trial, the first publicly funded such study delivered in an NHS setting. Among 60 participants with treatment-resistant depression, 50% of the psilocybin group responded by six weeks versus 3% on placebo; remission rates were 40% versus 3%. The Nature Medicine trial used a true placebo and found most side effects mild; no serious events were attributed to the drug.