Magic mushrooms may do more than just create strange visions.
A new study shows that a treatment using a compound from these mushrooms, called psilocybin, helped people with serious depression feel better for years.
In fact, two out of three people were still free from depression five years after the treatment.
The people in the study had joined a clinical trial in 2021. That trial had already shown that combining psilocybin with talk therapy helped reduce symptoms of major depression. Now, scientists from Ohio State University followed up with the same people five years later to see how they were doing. The results were exciting.
The new research found that 67% of participants were still in complete remission from depression. That’s even better than the 58% who were in remission one year after the original treatment. Other measures of mental health—such as anxiety, daily functioning, and general well-being—also improved or stayed steady over the five years.
Dr. Alan Davis, the lead researcher, said that most people in the study believed the treatment had changed their lives for the better. Many said it felt safe, meaningful, and deeply important. Some even saw it as a turning point that helped them live fuller lives.
In the original trial, participants received two doses of psilocybin along with about 13 hours of psychotherapy. Some got the treatment right away, while others waited. All of them showed major improvements, with about half reporting no depression symptoms a year later.
For the new study, 18 out of the original 24 participants agreed to be followed up. They filled out online surveys and talked with researchers about their mental health.
The researchers assumed that the six who didn’t join the follow-up had returned to their old depression levels—just to be cautious. Even with that conservative guess, the results still showed strong improvements.
However, the study also found that not all of the benefits came from the original treatment. Some participants had also tried other things since then—such as antidepressants, other psychedelic treatments, or more therapy. Only three people had no extra treatments during the five years.
Still, many said that the psilocybin therapy helped them think about their depression in a new way. Before the treatment, their depression felt overwhelming and constant. Afterward, they said it felt more manageable and less like it controlled their lives. They were able to feel more joy, even when sad feelings returned.
Interestingly, some who tried magic mushrooms again on their own did not find it as helpful without a trained therapist guiding them. This shows that the therapy part is just as important as the drug itself. A strong relationship between the therapist and the person getting treatment seems to play a big role.
The study also looked at safety. Most people said they had no bad side effects from the treatment. A few remembered feeling very emotionally sensitive afterward, or struggling during the waiting period before treatment. Some thought more support after the treatment would have helped.
Even though the study was small, the results are hopeful. They suggest that psilocybin-assisted therapy might help some people not just for a few months, but for years.
This is especially important for those whose depression keeps them from enjoying life or connecting with others. Some participants said that even when their depression came back a little, it didn’t stop them from living a full life.
The study was a team effort between researchers at Ohio State and Johns Hopkins University. The scientists say we still need more research to fully understand how and why this treatment works so well. But for now, it offers a glimpse of a future where psychedelic therapy could be a powerful tool in the fight against depression.
The study is published in Journal of Psychedelic Studies.
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