Psilocybin-assisted therapy was safe and associated with large reductions in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among U.S. military veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD, according to a study published July 30 in Communications Medicine.
Researchers conducted an open-label pilot trial at The Ohio State University’s Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education in Columbus, Ohio. Twelve U.S. military veterans ages 21-64 with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD completed four preparation therapy visits, two psilocybin dosing sessions, with 15 milligrams and 25 milligrams administered two to three weeks apart, and post-treatment integration therapy. Participants were followed for one month after the second dosing session.
Here are three things to know:
1. At one month after treatment, 75% of participants met criteria for both treatment response and PTSD remission, while no serious adverse events or increases in suicidal ideation were reported.
2. Clinician-rated PTSD severity declined by a mean of 27.5 points from baseline to one-month follow-up. Seventy-five percent of participants met criteria for both treatment response and remission, and 83% experienced a clinically meaningful improvement.
3. Researchers reported no serious adverse events. The most common treatment-related adverse events were headaches, anxiety and dizziness, and heart rate and blood pressure remained within safe limits during dosing sessions. Suicidal ideation did not increase during the trial.
4. Participants whose PTSD symptoms improved during preparatory psychotherapy before receiving psilocybin were more likely to have greater symptom reductions at follow-up. Participants’ treatment expectations did not significantly predict outcomes.
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