Oregon study tests lower-cost psilocybin therapy for low-income adults
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Researchers in Oregon studied whether group psilocybin therapy could be a feasible and safe treatment option for adults with depression and limited income.
Matthew Hicks and his colleagues designed a trial for 20 participants living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line, all diagnosed with major depressive disorder and already in regular psychotherapy. The study involved online preparation sessions, two in-person psilocybin administration sessions, and online integration sessions.
Nineteen participants completed the study, with high attendance rates and an average satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5. Participants received either 35 or 50 milligrams of psilocybin, depending on whether they also used SSRI or SNRI antidepressants. Researchers observed substantial drops in participants’ depression scores, from an average of 22.21 to 8.79 two days after the second psilocybin session.
While the study did not include a control group, and participants were aware they were receiving psilocybin, the findings suggest that group psilocybin therapy can be delivered to low-income adults. Hicks hopes this research will support larger, more rigorous studies to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and encourage insurance coverage of psilocybin-assisted therapy.
