Clinical TrialPTSDPsilocybinPsilocybinNot yet recruiting

Psilocybin-Assisted Randomized Therapy

This Phase II, randomised, open-label, parallel trial (n=150) will evaluate the safety, tolerability, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin administered with two different psychotherapy approaches in Georgia military service members, reservists, National Guard members or active-duty personnel seeking treatment for PTSD. The primary aims are to pilot tolerability and safety and to compare changes in PTSD symptoms between psilocybin plus supportive therapy and psilocybin plus massed prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. Participants will be randomised to receive a single 25 mg psilocybin dosing session paired either with supportive (non-directive) therapy—comprising preparatory work and two integrative support sessions one week apart with online surveys between sessions—or with massed PE consisting of 10 manualised PE sessions delivered over 10 days with imaginal and in vivo exposure homework and interim online surveys. Safety and tolerability will be assessed using the Swiss Psychedelic Side Effects Inventory (SPSI), Psychedelic-assisted Therapy After Effects (PATAE) and the Accessibility Questionnaire (AQ); other outcomes include Subjective Units of Distress (SUDS) during imaginal exposure, fear extinction and recall assessed by fear potentiated startle, and symptom measures (CAPS-5-R change baseline to 1 month, PCL-5 at baseline, 1, 6 and 12 months, and PHQ-9 at baseline, 1, 6 and 12 months). The study is planned to run from March 2026 to March 2027.

Target Enrollment
150 participants
Study Type
Phase II interventional
Design
Randomized

Detailed Description

This pilot study will examine the safety, tolerability, acceptability, and efficacy of combination psilocybin + psychotherapy to decrease PTSD symptoms. Participants will be randomized into two different treatment groups, allowing the investigators to directly compare PE augmented with psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.

Study Arms & Interventions

Group 1: Psilocybin combined with supportive therapy

experimental

All participants will receive a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin during the experimental session, which occurs during to their respective therapy model. Then, participants will receive 2 support (integrative) therapy sessions that will be 1 week apart. In between these sessions, subjects will complete a series of online surveys to track treatment progress.

Interventions

  • Psilocybin

Group 2: Psilocybin combined with massed prolonged exposure (PE) therapy

experimental

All participants will receive a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin during the experimental session, followed by 10 prolonged exposure (PE) therapy sessions for 10 days. In between these sessions, participants will complete a series of online surveys to track treatment progress.

Interventions

  • Psilocybin

Participants

Ages
18 – ?
Sexes
Male & Female

Inclusion Criteria

  • Eligible participants must be over the age of 18. They must self-identify as Georgia military veterans, reservists, National Guard members, or active-duty service members. Additionally, they must be seeking treatment for PTSD, which will be confirmed by a CAPS-5-R assessment. The criteria below will be applicable to all participants, regardless of study treatment arm.
  • 1. Meet criteria for PTSD due to trauma occurring at least 6 months prior based on CAPS-5-R diagnostic scoring rules.
  • 2. Willingness of participant to sign a release for the investigators to communicate with their primary care or mental health providers, if indicated
  • 3. Are 18 years and older.
  • 4. Are able to visually read and understand the English language and give written informed consent.
  • 5. Are able to swallow pills.
  • 6. Agree to have study visits video and/or audio recorded, including dosing session, Independent Rater assessments, and non-drug psychotherapy sessions.
  • 7. Must provide a contact (relative, spouse, close friend, or other support person) who is willing and able to be reached by the investigators in the event of a participant becoming suicidal or unreachable.
  • 8. Must agree to inform the investigators within 48 hours of any medical conditions and procedures.
  • 9. If able to become pregnant, must have a negative pregnancy test prior to study entry, at study entry, and prior to the psilocybin Session. They must agree to use highly effective birth control for a month prior to the psilocybin session and through 10 days after the Medicine session. Highly effective birth control methods include intrauterine device, injected, implanted, intravaginal, or transdermal hormonal methods, abstinence, oral hormones plus a barrier contraception, vasectomized sole partner, or double barrier contraception. Two forms of contraception are required with any barrier method or oral hormones (i.e., condom plus diaphragm, condom or diaphragm plus spermicide, oral hormonal contraceptives plus spermicide or condom). Not able to become pregnant is defined as permanent sterilization, postmenopausal (i.e., 12 consecutive months without menstruation), or assigned male at birth.
  • 10. Agree to the following lifestyle modifications: comply with requirements for fasting and refraining from certain medications prior to the psilocybin Session, not participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the duration of the treatment, and be accompanied to hotel after Medicine Session, and commit to medication dosing, therapy, and study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Potential participants are ineligible to enroll in the protocol if they:
  • 1. Are not able to give adequate informed consent.
  • 2. Are currently engaged in compensation litigation whereby financial gain would be achieved from prolonged symptoms of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorders. "Compensation litigation" will not include veterans who are service connected through PTSD or other conditions.
  • 3. Are likely, in the investigator's opinion and via observation during the Preparatory Period, to be re-exposed to their index trauma or other significant trauma, lack social support, or lack a stable living situation.
  • 4. Have any current problem which, in the opinion of the investigator or Medical Monitor, might interfere with participation.
  • 5. Have a family history bipolar disorder type 1 or a psychotic disorder in first degree relatives.
  • 6. Have a history of or current bipolar type 1 disorder, or primary psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia), as assessed via DIAMOND and clinical interview, dementia; or intellectual disability.
  • 7. Have current major depressive disorder with psychotic features assessed via DIAMOND.
  • 8. Have met criteria at any time during their life for hallucinogen substance use disorder.
  • 9. Meet criteria for current (past 3 months) moderate or severe substance use disorder, as defined by 4 or more DSM SUD criteria symptoms.
  • 10. Have a positive screen for cocaine or amphetamines on drug test administered in local community or on site unless being taken as prescribed by a physician.
  • 11. Have current clinically relevant personality pathology.
  • 12. Any participant presenting current serious suicide risk, as determined through psychiatric interview, responses to C-SSRS, and clinical judgment of the investigator will be excluded; however, history of suicide attempts is not an exclusion. Any participant who is likely to require hospitalization related to suicidal ideation and behavior, in the judgment of the investigator, will not be enrolled. Any participant presenting with the following on the C-SSRS administered at screening or baseline will be excluded:
  • 1. Suicidal ideation score of 4 or greater within the last six months.
  • 2. Any suicidal behavior, including suicide attempts or preparatory acts, within the last 6 months of the assessment
  • 13. Require ongoing concomitant therapy with a psychiatric medication with exceptions described in protocol section on Concomitant Medications.
  • 14. Other medical exclusion criteria specified in the protocol

Study Details

  • Status
    Not yet recruiting
  • Phase
    Phase II
  • Type
    interventional
  • Design
    Randomized
  • Target Enrollment150 participants
  • Timeline
    Start: 2026-03-01
    End: 2027-03-01
  • Compounds
    PsilocybinPsilocybin
  • Topic
    PTSD

Study Team

Sponsors & Collaborators

Locations

Emory University Hospital — Atlanta, Georgia, United States

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