UW Medicine reports that, in a randomized trial of 30 frontline COVID-19 clinicians, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy reduced depression scores more than placebo.
Study examined clinicians affected by COVID-19 care
UW Medicine reported that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy produced significant reductions in depression symptoms among clinicians who provided front-line COVID-19 care in 2020 and 2021. According to UW Medicine, the reductions were greater than those reported among clinicians who received a placebo.
UW Medicine said the findings came from a double-blind, randomized clinical trial and were published in JAMA Network Open. The source described participants as clinicians who had experienced intense levels of death and dying while caring for patients during the pandemic.
Thirty clinicians took part
According to UW Medicine, about 2,200 clinicians from across the United States applied for the study’s 30 available places after recruitment began in December 2021. UW Medicine said the participants were selected by lottery and all met the study’s criteria for front-line pandemic care.
UW Medicine reported that participants had no prepandemic mental health diagnoses and had moderate to severe depression symptoms at the beginning of the study, based on a rating scale. The source said participants described exhaustion, emotional detachment, withdrawal from loved ones and colleagues, crises of confidence, and, for some, uncertainty about continuing in medicine.
Psilocybin and placebo groups followed the same schedule
UW Medicine said participants were randomly assigned, without knowing their group, to receive either psilocybin or a placebo. According to the source, both groups completed two preparation sessions, one treatment session, and three integration sessions.
The psilocybin group received a single 25 mg dose of synthesized psilocybin, while the placebo group received 100 mg of niacin, UW Medicine reported. The source said two facilitators experienced in psychedelic-based counseling conducted the intervention sessions.
Depression scores declined more in the psilocybin group
From the first preparation session through 28 days later, participants in the psilocybin group had an average decline of 21.33 points on the depression rating scale, according to UW Medicine. The placebo group had an average decline of 9.33 points, UW Medicine reported.
UW Medicine quoted the trial’s lead investigator as saying the results offer evidence that guided psilocybin therapy differs from conventional psychotherapy. The source’s report focused on this small study of clinicians affected by front-line COVID-19 care.
What this means for Washington patients
This study does not identify local treatment options, but people looking for care in Washington can use the directory to find treatment locally; the directory lists 97 published clinics in Washington.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Washington reporting on treatment updates.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.