New Depression Study Findings Recently Were Published by Researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre [Engaging Mood Brain Circuits with Psilocybin (EMBRACE): a study protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled and delayed-start,...].

A recent study conducted by researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre explores the potential of psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD). The study aims to investigate how psilocybin affects brain networks associated with depression and whether it can induce neuroplastic changes that have lasting effects. Fifty participants diagnosed with MDD or PDD will be randomly assigned to receive either psilocybin or a placebo, and neuroimaging assessments will be conducted to measure changes in brain activity and blood flow. The study hopes to provide insights into the antidepressant mechanisms of psilocybin and identify early predictors of treatment response. [Extracted from the article]