psilocybin for depression Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, could offer a more cost-effective treatment option for major depressive disorder than current methods, according to research from Clerkenwell Health and the University of Greenwich.
Findings from the study, titled ‘ Cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe depression: exploratory findings from a decision analytic model ‘, indicate that combining psilocybin with therapy could be more cost-effective compared to current methods used in the treatment of major depression , such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The cost of psilocybin-based treatment, priced at £1,200, combined with therapy from a single therapist, was estimated to be £5,239. Comparatively, researchers note costs of £3,528 for conventional medication alone, £4,250 for CBT alone, and £4,197 for a combination of the two.
The study was authored by leading experts in the economics and psychedelics field, including Professor Paul McCrone from the University of Greenwich, neuro-psychopharmacologist David Nutt, and researchers Henry Fisher and Clare Knight from Clerkenwell Health, a start-up commercial clinical research organisation specialising in psychedelic treatments.
Professor McCrone said: “While this is a relatively expensive treatment option, the improved outcomes that seem to be achieved may justify this extra cost, especially as there are few treatment options for those with the hardest-to-treat forms of depression. More research is needed, especially on the level of therapist support that is required, but this is an interesting therapy and could well be positioned alongside more conventional treatments.”
In addition to the cost-effectiveness, researchers also identified that patients who received psilocybin-based treatment experienced a higher quality of life after treatment, with quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) nearly 10% greater than those treated with CBT – the next most effective treatment option.
This announcement comes just days after Australia ushered in a new era of treatment, becoming the first country in the world to legalise the use of psilocybin (and MDMA) to treat psychiatric conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. While psilocybin cannot be lawfully possessed or prescribed in the UK, there has been much debate over whether the substance should be legalised.
In the UK, the subject of mental health treatment has […]
Study shows psilocybin offers cost-effective solution for major depression
