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RecruitingPhase 3

Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression

NCT07226232 · PIVOT · VA Office of Research and Development

Recruiting
Status
Accepting participants
Phase 3
Phase
240
Target enrolment
5
Study sites
4 US states

What it is testing

Summary

The purpose of this multi-site randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy and risks of psilocybin for the treatment of depression in U.S. military Veterans with and without (±) concurrent posttraumatic stress disorder.

Summary as written by the trial’s own sponsor and published on ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. It is the sponsor’s description, reproduced unedited, not an assessment by this site.

What counts as success

Primary outcome measures

  • Montgomery-Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS)

    Measured over 2 weeks

A trial succeeds or fails on its primary outcome, declared in advance. Everything else it reports is secondary by definition.

Who can take part

Eligibility, as published

18 Years to 75 Years
Ages
All
Sex
Not accepted
Healthy volunteers
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran of the U.S. military who is English-speaking * Signed informed consent and HIPAA * Adults \</= 75 years of age * Meets DSM-5 criteria for current major depressive episode (MDE) * MADRS \>/= 20 at baseline * Failure to respond satisfactorily to \>/= 2 antidepressant treatments for \>/= 8 weeks, including \>/= 2 weeks at an adequate dose (\>/= 50% of the FDA-approved uppermost dose) for major depression. Augmentation with a medication for depression (e.g., neuroleptics, lithium, levothyroxine) is considered a separate course of treatment. * If applicable, concurrent \& permitted antidepressants must be at stable doses for \>/= 4 weeks prior to baseline (see allowed \& prohibited medication list) * Participants of child-bearing potential must have negative pregnancy test \& agree to adhere to a medically acceptable method of birth control during the study * Has a responsible adult who will provide transportation to the participant's home or place of lodging on the days of psilocybin administration Exclusion Criteria: * Lifetime bipolar, schizophrenia spectrum, or other psychotic disorders * First-degree relative with history of bipolar I, schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder * Presence of psychotic symptoms (e.g., MDE with psychotic symptoms) * Sedative-hypnotic, stimulant, inhalant and/or opioid use disorder within past 6 months (lifetime substance use disorder is allowed at the discretion of the LSI) * Severe alcohol and/or cannabis use disorder within the past 6 months (mild or moderate alcohol and/or cannabis use is allowed at the discretion of the LSI) * Lifetime hallucinogen persisting perception or hallucinogen use disorders * Use of psilocybin, ayahuasca, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), peyote, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) within past XX months * Participant agrees to not use psychedelics (listed above) during the study, except as prescribed by the study protocol * Taking prohibited medication within 2 weeks of baseline (see allowed and prohibited concomitant medication list) * History of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) * Diagnosis of dementia or related progressive neurocognitive disorder * Suicidal ideation/behavior Type 4 or Type 5 intensity on C-SSRS within past 6 months of baseline * Psychiatric inpatient treatment within past 3 months of baseline * Treatment with electroconvulsive therapy, deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation within 3 months of baseline * Implanted central nervous system device * Treatment with evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) for MDD or PTSD within 2 weeks prior to baseline. If receiving EBP therapy, he/she must complete treatment at least 2 weeks prior to baseline. Other forms of non-EBP psychotherapy for MDD or PTSD are allowed to continue during the study period. * Pregnancy or lactation, or anticipated pregnancy or breastfeeding during the active treatment phase * History of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, brain cancer, stroke and/or severe cardiac disease * Clinically significant cardiac, pulmonary, renal, liver and/or other medical disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may contraindicate the use of psilocybin, interfere with the interpretation of study results and/or constitute a health risk for the participant if they take part in the study * Seizure disorder, except for seizures due to fever or withdrawal from a substance * Clinically significant hypertension (\>160/95 mmHg), hypotension (\<90/60 mmHg) tachycardia (\>100 bpm at rest), QTc prolongation (\>450 msec men; \>470 msec women) or clinically significant arrhythmia on ECG * Clinically significant abnormal laboratory results on chemistry panel, liver function tests, complete blood count, and/or thyroid stimulating hormone * Positive urine drug screen for illicit drugs of abuse (except for THC) at screening or baseline * Prior allergic, adverse reaction or adverse experience to a psilocybin formulation * Litigating for disability income for a mental disorder outside the VA compensation and pension process

Where

5 study sites

FacilityCityRegionCountry
Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, ALBirminghamAlabamaUnited States
Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, ALTuscaloosaAlabamaUnited States
VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, ORPortlandOregonUnited States
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUnited States
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WASeattleWashingtonUnited States

On the registry

Contact the trial directly

This site does not enrol anyone and is not involved in this trial. To ask about taking part, use the sponsor’s own contact details on the official registry record, which is also where the most current version of everything above lives.

Before you do, the preparation checklist lists what a site will ask you on a first call and what is worth asking them. It is free and collects nothing.

NCT07226232 on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Last updated in the registry 2026-08-14. Registry records change; this page reflects the data build of 2026-08-25.

Related

Where this trial sits