A small Oregon feasibility study finds group psilocybin therapy feasible for low-income adults with depression, but efficacy remains uncertain

A small feasibility study in Oregon found that group psilocybin therapy could be delivered to low-income adults with depression and was associated with substantial reductions in depression scores. Nineteen of 20 participants completed two supervised dosing sessions, attendance was 98%, satisfaction averaged 4.8 out of 5, and no severe adverse events occurred. Average Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores fell from 22.21 at baseline to 8.79 two days after the second session, then rose to 11.89 at three months while remaining below baseline. The model used online preparation and integration sessions, small cohorts, and in-person dosing with psilocybin mushroom tea, potentially reducing access and therapist costs. However, the study had only 20 participants, no control group, no blinding, high participant expectations, concurrent psychotherapy, limited demographic diversity, and only three months of follow-up. These limitations prevent conclusions about psilocybin's specific effects or cost-effectiveness, supporting the need for larger controlled trials.