Key facts
- A U.S. pilot study involving 12 veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD found that nine no longer met the criteria for PTSD a month after receiving psilocybin therapy.
- The 11-week trial combined eight hours of psychotherapy, two doses of synthetic psilocybin, and six to eight hours of integrative therapy.
- Mild headaches were the most common side effect reported.
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April to expedite reviews of psychedelic treatments and increase research funding.
- Researchers hope to secure funding for a larger randomized, controlled clinical trial.
A small U.S. pilot study has shown promising results for military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who have not responded to conventional treatments. Researchers at The Ohio State University reported that nine out of twelve participants entered remission from PTSD a month after undergoing a treatment regimen involving the psychedelic drug psilocybin.
The 11-week trial combined extensive psychotherapy with two doses of synthetic psilocybin, administered a few weeks apart, followed by further integrative therapy. The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, is a controlled substance in the U.S., classified similarly to heroin due to its perceived high risk for abuse and lack of recognized medical use.
Despite the study's small scale and its design to primarily test safety, the results are considered striking for a population with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD. Researchers noted that the ability for patients to revisit difficult experiences with a new understanding was particularly exciting. While two of the three veterans not in remission showed some symptom decrease, one experienced only negligible improvement.
In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating regulatory reviews and increasing federal funding for research into psychedelic treatments. Internationally, psilocybin is authorized for treatment-resistant depression in Australia and has limited use in psychotherapy in Switzerland.
The study authors expressed hope for securing funding for a larger, randomized, controlled clinical trial. They also plan to continue monitoring participants for up to six months to assess long-term effectiveness, biological changes, and impacts on related issues such as sleep disorders and substance use.