A meta-analysis highlights that the antidepressant effects of psychedelics may be overestimated in studies with weaker designs like pre-post single-arm or non-active placebo controls. Psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD showed better efficacy compared to placebo in non-active placebo studies but not when active drugs were used as controls. Higher doses of psilocybin were associated with better antidepressant effects, underscoring the importance of rigorous study designs to accurately evaluate their therapeutic benefits.