— Meta-analysis raises concerns relating to security, scientific practice usage
by Kristen Monaco, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
May 1, 2024
A meta-analysis of psilocybin trials validated its possible advantage as an anxiety treatment, however raised concerns about its security and usage in medical practice.
7 of 9 research studies consisted of in the analysis revealed a considerable advantage with psilocybin for grownups with anxiety, preferring it over a comparator treatment (Hedges’ g 1.64, 95% CI 0.55-2.73, P< 0.001), reported Athina-Marina Metaxa, MSc, of the University of Oxford in England, and Mike Clarke, DPhil, of ICS-A Royal Hospitals in Belfast, Ireland.
Forecast periods were broad and “crossed the line of no distinction (95% CI -1.72 to 5.03), showing that there might be settings or populations in which psilocybin intervention would be less effective,” the scientists composed in The BMJ
In general, psilocybin treatment was related to a greater possibility for treatment reaction compared to placebo (threat ratio [RR] 2.02, 95% CI 1.33-3.07), though there was low heterogeneity in between the research studies for this result, they kept in mind. Psilocybin was likewise related to a higher opportunity of anxiety remission compared to placebo (RR 2.71, 95% CI 1.75-4.20).
Subgroup analyses revealed higher effectiveness of psilocybin amongst individuals with secondary anxiety, individuals with previous usage of psychedelics, individuals who were older, and in research studies that utilized self-reported procedures of anxiety signs.
“Efficacy did not seem uniform throughout client types– for instance, those with anxiety and a dangerous health problem appeared to benefit more from treatment,” Metaxa and Clarke observed.
“Although this evaluation’s findings are motivating for psilocybin’s capacity as a reliable antidepressant, a couple of locations about its applicability in scientific practice stay undiscovered,” they composed. It’s “uncertain whether the procedures for psilocybin interventions in scientific trials can be dependably and securely carried out in scientific practice,” they kept in mind.
In scientific trials, psilocybin treatment is de