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Current Psychiatry Reports
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Open Access 13-11-2024 | Insomnia Disorders | Review

Preliminary Evidence of Sleep Improvements Following Psilocybin Administration, and their Involvement in Antidepressant Therapeutic Action

Authors: Matthew J. Reid, Hannes Kettner, Tessa F. Blanken, Brandon Weiss, Robin Carhartt-Harris

Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports | Issue 11/2024

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Abstract

Purpose of the study

Psilocybin is a rapidly-emerging treatment for depression, yet its impact on sleep is not well understood. We sought to explore the literature on sleep and psilocybin use, and explore the topic using our own primary data.

Findings

Whilst clinical trials demonstrate large depressive symptom improvements, the impact of psilocybin on sleep quality or insomnia symptoms, has not been directly studied. Using our own preliminary-data we demonstrated that both depressive-symptoms and sleep-disturbances decreased significantly following psilocybin use, though sleep improvements were smaller compared to depressive symptoms. More severe sleep-disturbances at baseline were linked to lower probability of depression remission, underscoring a potential interaction between sleep and psilocybin’s efficacy.

Summary

Addressing sleep disturbances could enhance therapeutic outcomes in psilocybin-assisted therapy and could lead to more effective, personalized treatment-strategies. Future research should focus on populations with sleep disorders, and on examining causal-pathways of sleep physiology’s impact on psilocybin efficacy.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Preliminary Evidence of Sleep Improvements Following Psilocybin Administration, and their Involvement in Antidepressant Therapeutic Action
Authors
Matthew J. Reid
Hannes Kettner
Tessa F. Blanken
Brandon Weiss
Robin Carhartt-Harris
Publication date
13-11-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Psychiatry Reports / Issue 11/2024
Print ISSN: 1523-3812
Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-024-01539-8

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