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Learning and research at Majik Minds

Resources

Education & Research

A library of peer-reviewed studies and articles on the use of psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine in treating depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions.

We believe great care is built on great evidence. The citations below represent some of the foundational research that informs our clinical work and the conversations we have with patients, doctors and partners. This list is not exhaustive — if there is a specific topic you are interested in, please get in touch.

What the research covers, at a glance

A summary of the studies collected on this page. It describes what has been investigated and how these substances are regulated in Canada — not which treatments Majik Minds offers, and not how well any of them work.

Psychedelic substances, the indications studied in the research cited on this page, routes of administration used in that research, and their regulatory status in Canada
SubstanceIndications studiedRoute in the literatureStatus in Canada
PsilocybinMajor depression, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety and depression in life-threatening illness, PTSD, alcohol and tobacco dependence, OCDOralControlled substance. Lawful access via the Special Access Program or authorised research.
MDMAPost-traumatic stress disorderOralControlled substance. Investigational in Canada.
KetamineTreatment-resistant depression, rapid reduction of suicidal thinking, adolescent and bipolar depressionIntravenous infusion, intramuscular injectionApproved as an anaesthetic in Canada; used off-label for depression.

Psilocybin

Depression

  • Robin Carhart-Harris, Ph.D., Bruna Giribaldi, et al. Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. April 15, 2021, N Engl J Med 2021; 384:1402-1411.
  • Davis AK, Barrett FS, May DG, Cosimano MP, Sepeda ND, Johnson MW, Finan PH, Griffiths RR. Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021 May 1;78(5):481-489.
  • Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Rucker J, Day CM, Erritzoe D, Kaelen M, Bloomfield M, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Jul 1;3(7):619-27.
  • Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Day CM, Rucker J, Watts R, Erritzoe DE, Kaelen M, Giribaldi B, Bloomfield M, Pilling S, Rickard JA. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology. 2018 Feb;235(2):399-408.
  • Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, Umbricht A, Richards WA, Richards BD, Cosimano MP, Klinedinst MA. Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2016 Dec;30(12):1181-97.
  • Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, Agin-Liebes G, Malone T, Cohen B, Mennenga SE, Belser A, Kalliontzi K, Babb J, Su Z. Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2016 Dec;30(12):1165-80.
  • NYU Langone — Single dose of hallucinogenic drug psilocybin relieves anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer.
  • Griffiths RR. Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford). 12/2016;30(12):1181-1197. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675513.
  • Ross S. Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford). 12/2016;30(12):1165-1180. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675512.
  • Agin-Liebes GI. Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer. Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford). 02/2020;34(2):155-166. doi: 10.1177/0269881119897615.

Other Indications

  • Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PCR, Strassman RJ. Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study. J Psychopharmacol (Oxf). 2015;29:289–299.
  • Moreno FA, Wiegand CB, Taitano EK, Delgado PL. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of psilocybin in 9 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2006 Nov 11;67(11):1735-40.
  • Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW. Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Current Drug Abuse Reviews. 2014 Dec 1;7(3):157-64.
  • Erritzoe D, Roseman L, Nour MM, MacLean K, Kaelen M, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2018 Nov;138(5):368-78.
  • Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR. Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2017 Jan 2;43(1):55-60.

MDMA

PTSD

  • Mithoefer MC, Mithoefer AT, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, Wagner M, Wymer J, et al. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5:486–97.
  • Mithoefer MC, Wagner TM, Mithoefer AT, Jerome L, Doblin R. The safety and efficacy of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. J Psychopharmacol. 2010;25:439–52. doi: 10.1177/0269881110378371.
  • Sessa B, Higbed L, Nutt D. A Review of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Assisted Psychotherapy. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Mar 20;10:138. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00138. PMID: 30949077; PMCID: PMC6435835.
  • MAPS — MDMA Investigator’s Brochure (12th Edition, August 2020).

Ketamine

Depression

  • Grunebaum MF, Galfalvy HC, Choo T-H, Keilp JG, Moitra VK, Parris MS, Marver JE, Burke AK, Milak MS, Sublette ME, Oquendo MA, Mann JJ. Ketamine for Rapid Reduction of Suicidal Thoughts in Major Depression: A Midazolam-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2018;175(4):327-335.
  • Dwyer JB, Landeros-Weisenberger A, Johnson JA, Londono Tobon A, Flores JM, Nasir M, Couloures K, Sanacora G, Bloch MH. Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Trial. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2021;178(4):352-362.
  • Papakostas GI, Salloum NC, Hock RS, et al. Efficacy of esketamine augmentation in major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2020;81:19r12889.
  • Ochs-Ross R, Daly EJ, Zhang Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of esketamine nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant in elderly patients with treatment-resistant depression: TRANSFORM-3. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020;28:121–141.
  • Bahji A, Vazquez GH, Zarate CA. Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2021;278:542–555.
  • Zheng W, Zhou Y-L, et al. Rapid and longer-term antidepressant effects of repeated-dose intravenous ketamine for patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2018;106:61-68.

Intramuscular Ketamine

  • Dames S, Kryskow P, Watler C. A Cohort-Based Case Report: The Impact of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Embedded in a Community of Practice Framework for Healthcare Providers With PTSD and Depression. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jan 12;12:803279. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.803279. PMID: 35095617; PMCID: PMC8790057.
  • Chilukuri H, Reddy N, Pathapati R, Manu A, Jollu S, Shaik A. Acute antidepressant effects of intramuscular versus intravenous ketamine. Indian J Psychol Med. 2014;36(1):71–6.
  • Harihar C, Dasari P, Srinivas JS. Intramuscular ketamine in acute depression: A report on two cases. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013;55(2):186-188. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.111461.
  • Green SM, Rothrock SG, Lynch EL, Ho M, Harris T, Hestdalen R, et al. Intramuscular ketamine for pediatric sedation in the emergency department: safety profile in 1,022 cases. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 1998;31(6):688-697.
  • Cusin C, Hilton GQ, Nierenberg AA, Fava M. Long-term maintenance with intramuscular ketamine for treatment-resistant bipolar II depression. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;169(8):868-869.
  • Andrade C. Ketamine for depression, 4: in what dose, at what rate, by what route, for how long, and at what frequency? The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2017;78(7):10106.

Have a research question?

Our clinical team is happy to discuss the evidence base for psychedelic-assisted therapy in more depth. Reach out any time.

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