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
Single-dose Ketamine Treatment to Improve Depression in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
University of Colorado, Denver
Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Two Administrations of COMP360 in Participants With TRD
COMPASS Pathways
A Phase II, Multicentre, Randomised, Double-blind, Controlled Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Efficacy of COMP360 in Participants With Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder
COMPASS Pathways
Companies & Research
Organizations with active depression research programs