Imperial College London
Alternate

Professor Robin Carhart-Harris

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences

Visiting Professor
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 7992r.carhart-harris

 
 
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Assistant

 

Miss Bruna Cunha +44 (0)20 7594 7992

 
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Location

 

Burlington DanesHammersmith Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Weiss:2024:10.1007/s11469-024-01253-9,
author = {Weiss, B and Roseman, L and Giribaldi, B and Nutt, DJ and Carhart-Harris, RL and Erritzoe, D},
doi = {10.1007/s11469-024-01253-9},
journal = {International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction},
title = {Unique Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Psilocybin Therapy Versus Escitalopram Treatment in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01253-9},
year = {2024}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - The mechanisms by which Psilocybin Therapy (PT) improves depression remain an important object of study, with scientists actively exploring acute psychological experiences and neurobiological processes as candidates. In a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, active comparator controlled trial involving patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder, we investigated whether acute psychological experiences could meaningfully account for the unique efficacy of PT versus Escitalopram Treatment over a core 6-week trial period. An exploratory-factor-analysis-derived single-factor of depression was used as the outcome. Among a comprehensive set of acute experiences related to psilocybin, so-called “mystical experience” and “ego dissolution” were unique in mediating the effect of treatment condition on depressive response with high specificity. Higher reported levels of mystical experience, emotional breakthrough, and intense responses to music-listening were furthermore associated with greater antidepressant response. These results provide qualified support for the causal mechanistic role of acute psychological experiences in the treatment of depression via PT.
AU  - Weiss,B
AU  - Roseman,L
AU  - Giribaldi,B
AU  - Nutt,DJ
AU  - Carhart-Harris,RL
AU  - Erritzoe,D
DO  - 10.1007/s11469-024-01253-9
PY  - 2024///
SN  - 1557-1874
TI  - Unique Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Psilocybin Therapy Versus Escitalopram Treatment in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01253-9
ER  -
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