A new study presented at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference reveals that a single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, can alleviate depression for at least five years. A randomized clinical trial of 24 patients with major depressive disorder showed significant and lasting reductions in depression symptoms, even surpassing the effectiveness of traditional antidepressants in the short term. A follow-up study five years later found that 67% of participants remained in remission. While the small sample size is a limitation, the results suggest psilocybin's potential as a long-term treatment for depression, although further research is needed.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.