A single dose of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, may significantly alleviate symptoms of depression, according to results from the first publicly funded clinical trial conducted outside a hospital setting. The study, led by King’s College London and carried out at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), involved 60 participants who had not responded to at least two previous depression treatments.

In the randomized, placebo-controlled trial, half of the participants received 25 milligrams of psilocybin, while the other half were given a placebo. Both groups also received psychological support throughout the study. After three weeks, 43 percent of patients treated with psilocybin reached the threshold for a treatment response, which increased to 56 percent at six weeks. By contrast, only 3 percent of those receiving the placebo showed a similar response.

Additionally, the trial found that 40 percent of the psilocybin group achieved remission—defined as a reduction in symptoms below clinical criteria—within three weeks, a figure that remained steady at the six-week follow-up. In the placebo group, only 3 percent of participants experienced remission.

One participant described their experience as emotionally intense, recounting vivid imagery connected to personal loss and describing the session as a form of emotional release. The patient noted that, while the process was painful and exhausting, it ultimately helped them gain a deeper understanding of their depression and facilitated emotional processing.

Professor James Rucker, a consultant psychiatrist at SLaM and a member of King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, commented on the findings: “The wider evidence base for psilocybin therapy is growing rapidly and looks increasingly promising.”

These findings contribute to a growing body of research suggesting that psilocybin-assisted treatment could offer a new therapeutic option for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, potentially reducing the need for multiple doctor visits and traditional pharmacological interventions. Further studies are anticipated to confirm these results and to explore long-term outcomes of psilocybin therapy.