The Use of Psychedelic Drugs in the Treatment of Unipolar Depression

Absract: IntroductionDepression is a common group of psychiatric disorders with a highly diverse clinical presentation and, in many cases, a severe course. It is estimated that approximately 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The course of depression can vary significantly, with the most frequently reported symptoms including low mood, anhedonia, and feelings of reduced energy. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of currently used antidepressant treatment methods and compare them to the antidepressant effects of ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin. Review A review of scientific literature available on the PubMed platform was conducted using the following keywords: depression, psychedelic drugs, treatment of depression, treatment-resistant depression. Twenty-one articles published in the last 5 years were searched and analyzed. Abbreviated description and the state of knowledge In the treatment of depression, the most commonly used methods include pharmacotherapy with various classes of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. The efficacy of pharmacotherapy with a single drug is estimated at 60%, with only 30% of patients remaining completely symptom-free within 12 weeks of therapy. To increase efficacy, pharmacotherapy involving at least two classes of antidepressants is used. A major limitation of classical pharmacotherapy is the frequent occurrence of adverse effects during treatment. Psychotherapy, used as one of the first-line therapeutic methods, shows effectiveness comparable to pharmacotherapy. The relatively high ineffectiveness of classical pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy necessitates the search for new therapeutic methods. ConclusionsPsychedelic drugs demonstrate significant efficacy in the treatment of unipolar depressive disorders and have a high safety profile. A particular advantage of psychedelic drugs is their rapid action compared to classical pharmacotherapy