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Psilocybin Safe And Effective Against Mood Disorders, Real-World Data Show
- August 21, 2026
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
Oregon’s landmark psilocybin program is showing that the “magic mushroom” chemical can help people manage their mood disorders, a new study says.
People participating in state-regulated psilocybin services reported relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers reported Aug. 19 in JAMA Network Open.
In fact, nearly two-thirds declared the experience to be among the most meaningful of their lives.
“These early results reveal psilocybin’s potential to improve health in people accessing these services here in Oregon,” said Oregon Health & Science University President Dr. Shereef Elnahal in a news release. OHSU led the evaluation of the state’s legalized psilocybin market.
“The study also provides important insight for policymakers considering programs that permit psychedelics for the treatment of mental health conditions, including PTSD and substance use disorders affecting America’s military veterans,” added Elnahal, who previously served as undersecretary of health in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He was not involved in the new study.
Oregon voters approved psilocybin services in 2020, making state-licensed access to the mind-altering drug available for people 21 and older starting in 2023.
More than 20,000 people have accessed Oregon-licensed psilocybin services to date, researchers noted.
For the new study, researchers evaluated nearly 350 people receiving psychiatric care at 24 of Oregon’s 26 licensed psilocybin service centers. The participants all received a single session with the psychedelic drug between November 2024 and June 2026, under the care of a licensed facilitator.
Results showed that:
One month after the session, nearly 92% felt they benefitted and 65% considered it one of the 10 most meaningful events in their lives.
Three months after, participants reported decreased symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, as well as better well-being and life satisfaction.
Few reported their experience as harmful, although four had behavioral reactions to the drug that required medical attention. None reported any serious effects on their physical health.
“Safety was very similar to what we’ve seen with psychedelics in clinical settings,” lead researcher Dr. Todd Korthuis said in a news release.
“That’s important because there was a big question around whether or not safety in carefully controlled psilocybin clinical trials would translate into real-world use,” Korthuis said. He is a professor of medicine at OHSU.
Korthuis noted that psilocybin is not an appropriate treatment for some conditions, including psychosis and bipolar disorder. Pregnant women also should not take the psychedelic.
However, Korthuis said he was struck by the safety profile of psilocybin. Overall, only seven of the participants reported the experience as harmful three months after their session.
“This may be a reflection of clients who were healthier overall than clinical trial participants,” Korthuis said. “The results demonstrate it’s safe for people receiving state-regulated psilocybin experiences.”
As a next step, a $3.3 million five-year federal grant awarded earlier this year will enable OHSU researchers to examine psilocybin’s effectiveness in helping patients reduce their use of illicit substances.
“This paper is going to be cited for decades,” senior researcher Adrianne Wilson-Poe, a scientist at the Legacy Research Institute in Portland, Oregon, said in a news release. “This is the first large-scale study to monitor the safety and mental health symptoms of real people in the real world.”
While psilocybin therapy is not a federally approved treatment, a growing number of states are following Oregon and embracing it. Colorado has allowed it since 2024, and a similar law goes into effect in New Mexico later this year. Eighteen other states are considering similar legislation.
More information
Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on psychedelics research.
SOURCES: Oregon Health & Science University, news release, Aug. 19, 2026; MycoMeditations, Dec. 30, 2025
