“Psilocybin not only produces significant and immediate effects, it also has a long duration, which suggests that it may be a uniquely useful new treatment for depression.”

“Compared to standard antidepressants, which must be taken for long stretches of time, psilocybin has the potential to enduringly relieve the symptoms of depression with one or two treatments,” he added.

Psilocybin is thought to act on the serotonergic part of the brain that modulates mood and may disrupt negative thoughts in depression.