What was required to be part of a recent research study on depression? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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Imagine you have moderate to severe depression. Would you stop taking your medicines to be part of a research study comparing psilocybin to a traditional antidepressant? That was a requirement for participants in a recently reported study, and Matthew Johnson, a psychedelics researcher at Johns Hopkins, says that’s not all.

Johnson: In addition to having to be free of other therapeutic interventions they had to be willing to be on their toes in terms of what to expect. I mean with psilocybin you coach people that hey, this could be one of the most intense experiences of your life potentially, here’s what we’re doing to keep you safe during that, and here’s what it may or may not be like, but be ready for it. It’s a credit to the people who are willing to do these studies, hopefully is a chance for benefit regardless of what arm they’re in.  :29

Johnson says the favorable results of this trial could offer another therapeutic intervention for people with depression, and he applauds the participants. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.