New analysis: Psychedelics may be no better than SSRIs for depression, plus US and EU policy updates on ibogaine, psilocybin, and bretisilocin

Psychedelics for depression may not outperform existing antidepressants, according to a new JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis comparing psychedelic-assisted therapy to open-label SSRI and SNRI studies using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale outcomes. The analysis reports virtually no difference in depression score changes between groups and suggests a suppressed placebo response in psychedelic trials may reflect a “know-cebo” effect. The newsletter also covers state policy momentum: Kentucky legislators consider an ibogaine research bill and a New Mexico budget extension that supports its medical psilocybin program plus a Medical Psilocybin Treatment Equity Fund aimed at expanding access. In Europe, the EU added bretisilocin to its PRIME priority scheme, signaling expedited review potential for a longer-acting DMT-like compound developed by Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals. Separately, the Psychedelic Medicine Association is forming a nonprofit accreditation program for psychedelic facilitators, while an Oregon lawsuit involving at-home accommodations for disabled and dying clients seeking psilocybin moves forward after a judge rejects dismissal attempts.