The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a new clinical trial to investigate whether psilocybin can help military veterans who are struggling with treatment-resistant depression.
The move follows VA’s recent announcement of a separate trial on MDMA-assisted therapy in treating veterans with severe mental health disorders, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder.
The new psilocybin and depression research announced on Wednesday, titled “Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression,” or PIVOT, will also include veterans concurrent PTSD.
The randomized, controlled trial—which comes on the heels of an executive order President Donald Trump signed in April with the aim of expediting psychedelic therapy access—will be conducted at five separate VA medical centers across Alabama, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington State.
“Far too many veterans are living with mental health conditions that don’t respond to available treatments,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a press release. “Under President Trump, VA is pursuing all avenues to evaluate new treatments and offer meaningful relief for those who have worn the uniform. This clinical trial reflects another step toward this goal.”
Veterans First 🇺🇸
VA is launching a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of psilocybin to treat major depression
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