Researching Psilocybin's Effects on Depression

Neuroscientist Robin Carhart-Harris and Professor David Nutt studied psychedelics to investigate the unconscious mind and brain activity. After early studies suggested psilocybin could reduce rumination, they began a UK clinical study with 20 people who had treatment-resistant depression. Watts says licensing, funding, and access to GMP-grade psilocybin made the research difficult.

Participants met with two clinical guides beforehand to build trust and discuss what might arise. In the study, they received either 10 or 25 milligrams of psilocybin in a comfortable clinic room, with music and eyeshades. Watts describes guides as helping participants feel safe and face difficult experiences, while the participant remains the focus of the work.

Participants had lived with depression for an average of 18 years and had tried three to 11 antidepressants. Watts reports that 17 of the 20 felt better for a period: six were still depression-free at six months, while 11 had a return of symptoms after about three months. Three participants did not have a meaningful response, and the team could not provide follow-up sessions.

Watts describes psychedelic care as preparation, the session, and integration, where participants make sense of their experience and connect it to daily life. She compares depression to repeatedly sledding down the same deep groove; psilocybin may create a window for new patterns, but changes to habits and relationships may help sustain the benefits. The study did not provide the full integration support she believes would be useful.

Watts imagines care as a longer process that could include preparation, integration, community, and individually timed sessions. She says participants should shape their own goals, and advises waiting a couple of weeks before making major decisions after a session. She also discusses meditation and holotropic breathwork as ways to explore altered states without psychedelic drugs.