Tuscaloosa VA To Participate In Psilocybin Clinical Trial For Veterans With Depression, PTSD

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center announced this week it will be one of five sites nationwide participating in a new clinical trial examining whether psilocybin can safely and effectively treat veterans with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says the Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression (PIVOT) trial is part of a broader effort to study new treatment options for veterans whose depression has not responded to existing therapies.

Tuscaloosa VA Interim Medical Center Director Dr. Maisha Moore said the local facility's participation will put West Alabama at the center of research into the experimental treatment.

“Tuscaloosa VA is committed to exploring every evidence-based avenue to improve the mental health and well-being of the Veterans we serve,” Moore said. “By participating in this trial, our facility is helping advance innovative research into new treatment options that may offer meaningful relief for Veterans, both here in West Alabama and across the country.”

Along with the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, the trial will be conducted at the Birmingham VA Health Care System; VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon; Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia; and VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle.

The Tuscaloosa VA said the multi-site, randomized controlled trial will enroll veterans diagnosed with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, both with and without concurrent PTSD.

Participants will then be assigned to receive one of two doses of psilocybin.

Researchers will compare participants' depression levels before and after treatment while also examining PTSD symptom severity, side effects and patient-reported depression.

Psychological support will also be provided as part of the study.

The study comes amid increased federal attention on psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for serious mental illnesses.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April aimed at accelerating research and access to experimental treatments, including psychedelic drugs.

Psilocybin is a natural psychedelic compound found in more than 200 species of fungi that can alter perception and consciousness.

Its use in the Tuscaloosa VA study is strictly investigational and the VA stressed that psychedelic therapies would not be considered for routine clinical use unless they receive FDA approval.

The VA also warned veterans against attempting to self-medicate with psychedelics or replacing established mental health treatments with unprescribed substances.

The PIVOT study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under identification number NCT07226232.

For more information about the Tuscaloosa VA's participation, contact Tuscaloosa VA Public Affairs at VHATUAPublicAffairs@va.gov or (205) 554-2000, ext. 3544.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.