MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Psychological flexibility as a mechanism of change in psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depression: results from an exploratory placebo-controlled trial

Summary

This study examined how psilocybin mushroom therapy works for treating depression when combined with talk therapy. Participants received a placebo pill followed by psilocybin four weeks later, both times as part of psychological treatment. The research found that people who received psilocybin showed greater improvements in their ability to accept difficult thoughts and emotions and live according to their values, and these improvements were linked to feeling less depressed.

Background

Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown therapeutic potential for major depressive disorder, but the mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects remain unclear. Observational research suggests that improvements in psychological flexibility may mediate therapeutic effects, though this has not been substantiated in clinical samples.

Objective

To examine whether psychological flexibility serves as a mechanism of change in psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depression when combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and to determine if improvements in psychological flexibility are associated with reductions in depression severity.

Results

Psychological flexibility significantly improved following psilocybin compared to placebo and was maintained through week 16. Improvements in psychological flexibility and experiential acceptance were strongly associated with reductions in depression severity. Several mindfulness facets and values-congruent living also significantly improved following psilocybin.

Conclusion

This trial demonstrates that psilocybin-assisted therapy combined with ACT produces significant improvements in psychological flexibility, which are strongly associated with depression symptom reduction. These findings support integrating psilocybin treatment with psychotherapeutic platforms targeting psychological flexibility and suggest this may be an important mechanism of change in psilocybin-assisted therapy for MDD.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Clinical Trial,
  • Source: PMID: 38632313; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58318-x
Scroll to Top