Low-income group psilocybin assisted therapy for depression

An Oregon feasibility study

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7473775
AutoresMatthew Hicks (0000-0002-9974-2228, National University of Natural Medicine), Olivia Hicks (0000-0002-6938-9670, Synaptic Research (United States)), Ryan Bradley (0000-0002-8073-3671, National University of Natural Medicine), Heather Zwickey (0000-0002-1600-401X, National University of Natural Medicine)
Ano2026
Data de publicação2026-02-12
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Psychedelic Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2559-9283 • E-ISSN: 2559-9283
EditoraAkademiai Kiado Zrt (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1556/2054.2026.00485
OpenAlexW7128687864
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas31

Background and aims Despite growing popularity and increasing legal access, psychedelic therapy remains financially inaccessible to many. This study was designed to test the feasibility of conducting group psilocybin therapy in low-income adults with depression in Oregon's regulated psilocybin program. Methods An open label, uncontrolled design was used. After a medical screening visit, participants were enrolled in cohorts of six. Each cohort participated in two 90-min preparation sessions conducted online followed by two psilocybin administration sessions one week apart where they consumed dehydrated and homogenized whole mushrooms, Psilocybe cubensis (B+ strain) prepared in a tea. Two days after each psilocybin administration they had an online, 90-min integration session. Results We recruited 26 eligible participants, 20 of whom began treatment and 19 completed. No severe adverse events were reported, and participants rated their satisfaction, on average, as 4.8 out of 5, reporting moderate to high benefit and no harm. Exploratory outcomes include Hamilton Depression scores which demonstrated a significant decrease ( t = 8.24, p < 0.001) in a paired t -test and a strong effect size (Cohen's d = 1.89). For the same time periods all eight domains of the PROMIS-29 were significantly improved on paired t -tests at p < .01 with effect sizes ranging from 0.667 to 1.774. Conclusions The study demonstrates the feasibility of group psilocybin therapy in a low-income population with depression. Further research with rigorous comparator groups is warranted to assess if this intervention can be both effective and cost-effective

Adverse effect · Clinical trial · Depression (economics · Hallucinogen · Population · Psilocybin · Randomized controlled trial · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Pain Management and Placebo Effect · Psychedelics and Drug Studies