Journal Of Affective Disorder Crtce Article

Journal Of Affective Disorder Crtce Article

Background: The effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of intravenous (IV) Psychedelic Therapy in adults with treatment re-sistant depression (TRD) receiving care in real-word settings is insufficiently characterized. Herein, results from a naturalistic, retrospective study are presented from a Canadian outpatient IV Psychedelic Therapy clinic.

Methods: Adults (N = 213; Mage = 45) with Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder, with a minimum of Stage 2 antidepressant resistance, received IV Psychedelic Therapy at a community-based multi-disciplinary clinic. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline to post-infusion 4 on the Quick Inventory for Depression Symptomatology-Self Report-16 (QIDS-SR16; n = 190). Secondary measures included QIDS-SR16-measured response and remission rates, changes from baseline to endpoint in Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7; n = 188) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS; n = 168).

Results: Significant improvement in total depressive symptoms severity (p < 0.0001) was observed after four in-fusions of IV Psychedelic Therapy 0.5–0.75 mg/kg. Moreover, the response rate (QIDS-SR16 total score change ≥ 50%) was 27% and remission (QIDS-SR16 total score ≤5) rate was 13%. Patients receiving IV Psychedelic Therapy exhibited anxiolytic effects (p < 0.0001,), improved overall psychosocial function (p < 0.0001), and reduced suicidal ideation (p < 0.0001). Compared to the baseline infusion, dissociation severity significantly reduced in subsequent infusions.

Limitations: This was a naturalistic, retrospective study, without a control group.

Conclusions: IV Psychedelic Therapy was safe, well-tolerated, and effective at improving depressive, anxiety, and functional impairment symptoms in a well-characterized cohort of adults with TRD.

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