Keywords
Depression
MDMA
Psilocybin
Psychedelic-assisted therapy
How to Cite
Abstract
Depression is a disorder with significant clinical and social impact, often resistant to conventional treatment, prompting the search for complementary therapeutic strategies. Psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA have been shown to induce rapid and lasting responses to depressive symptoms. This integrative review analyzed 14 studies published between 2015 and 2024, selected from PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS, and BVS databases, including clinical trials, original articles, and case reports. The results indicate that psilocybin significantly reduces the symptoms of major depressive disorder, even in resistant cases, promoting rapid and sustained clinical improvement after one or a few doses (Raison et al., 2023; Hsu et al., 2024; Kalfas et al., 2023), while MDMA, associated with psychotherapy, demonstrated robust efficacy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, with potential in palliative settings and evidence of long-term cost-effectiveness (Ot'alora et al., 2018; Mitchell et al., 2023; Marseille; Mitchell; Kahn, 2022; Bhagavan et al., 2024). Both presented acceptable safety profiles in controlled settings, although large-scale trials, standardization of protocols, and evaluation in more diverse populations are needed (Feduccia et al., 2021; Kuypers et al., 2018). In Brazil, the therapeutic use of these psychedelics is restricted: psilocybin and MDMA are listed on List F2 of SVS/MS Ordinance No. 344/1998, and their use outside of authorized research is prohibited by the Drug Law (Law No. 11,343/2006). This requires ethical and regulatory attention, including informed consent, rigorous monitoring, and discussions on equity of access. In summary, psychedelics represent an innovative and promising alternative for managing depression, with evidence of efficacy and safety, although their clinical incorporation depends on the consolidation of studies that ensure standardized protocols, reproducibility, regulatory viability, and ethical reflection. They stand out as complementary tools to conventional treatment and structured psychotherapy.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Pedro Henrique Caminha Raposo, Lucas Almeida Gonçalves, Ana Laura de Araújo Caetano, Thiago Vasconcelos Guimarães, Matheus Santos Marques
