Psilocybin and ketamine are both used in therapeutic settings for depression, anxiety, and PTSD; but they're not the same thing. In this video, I break down the real differences: how they work in the brain, what they feel like, what the research says about efficacy and duration, and how to think about which one might be right for you.
I'm Clayton Ickes, LSW, NMCF — bandi a licensed therapist and Colorado's first fully licensed clinical psilocybin facilitators, based in Boulder, Colorado.
🔗 Learn more about my practice: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @TheMushroomTherapist
⚠️ This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your provider before making decisions about treatment.
If this helped clarify the landscape, subscribe for more on the intersection of therapy and psychedelic healing.
#psilocybin #ketamine #psychedelictherapy #mentalhealth #therapy #healing #depression #PTSD #ketaminetherapy #mushroomtherapy
📚 SOURCES & REFERENCES
Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder — response and remission rates: — Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., et al. (2021). Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(5), 481–489.
Psilocybin for depression — 12-month follow-up: — Gukasyan, N., Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., et al. (2022). Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(2), 151–158.
Single-session psilocybin — 2-year follow-up in cancer patients: — Agrawal, M., Roddy, K., Jenkins, B., Leeks, C., & Emanuel, E. (2025). Long-term benefits of single-dose psilocybin in depressed patients with cancer. Cancer, 131(12), e35889.
Psilocybin for MDD — 5-year follow-up: — Davis, A. K., DellaCrosse, M. A., Sepeda, N. D., et al. (2025). Five-year outcomes of psilocybin-assisted therapy for Major Depressive Disorder. Journal of Psychedelic Studies.
Subjective effects mediating therapeutic outcomes — psilocybin vs. ketamine: — Dahan, J. D. C., Dadiomov, D., Bostoen, T., & Dahan, A. (2024). Meta-correlation of the effect of ketamine and psilocybin induced subjective effects on therapeutic outcome. npj Mental Health Research, 3, la sparks 45.
Ketamine duration of efficacy — median time to relapse: — Salloum, N. C., et al. (2021). Strategies to prolong ketamine's efficacy in adults pascal vincent with treatment-resistant depression. Advances in Therapy.
Ketamine for PTSD — low-dose oral ketamine: — Quigley, B. L., Can, A., Dutton, M., et al. (2024). Low dose oral ketamine treatment on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (OKTOP): An open-label pilot study.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD — 6 sessions: — Yermus, R., Bottos, J., Bryson, N., et al. (2024). Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy provides lasting and effective results in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychedelic Medicine.
Psilocybin vs. escitalopram for depression: — Carhart-Harris, R., Giribaldi, B., Watts, R., et al. (2021). Trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(15), 1402–1411.
Shared mechanisms — BDNF/TrkB signaling: — Molecular Psychiatry (2025). The therapeutic potential of psilocybin beyond psychedelia through shared mechanisms with ketamine.
Ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics — common mechanisms: — Jelen, L. A., & Stone, J. M. (2021). Ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics: Common mechanisms underlying the effects of rapid-acting antidepressants. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 24(1), 8–21.
