The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new clinical trial to test whether psilocybin can treat veterans suffering from treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The PIVOT study, or Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression, aims to enroll 240 veterans across five medical centers. The trial will run through June 2031, with participants receiving two doses of pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin alongside therapeutic support in a controlled clinical environment.
This initiative follows a recent, smaller study from Ohio State University where 75% of veteran participants no longer met clinical criteria for PTSD after receiving psilocybin therapy. Researchers reported no serious adverse effects during that trial, noting only mild symptoms such as headache or dizziness. VA Secretary Doug Collins stated that the department is pursuing these avenues to find relief for veterans who do not respond to existing mental health treatments.
The effort is part of a larger push within the federal government to examine psychedelic therapies. President Trump issued an executive order in April directing the FDA to accelerate the review of these substances. Following that directive, the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services established a partnership to coordinate research efforts and train medical staff on administering potential psychedelic treatments.
Five specific VA facilities are participating in this research: Birmingham and Tuscaloosa in Alabama, Portland in Oregon, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and the Puget Sound system in Seattle. The VA maintains that veterans should continue to use established, evidence-based treatments currently available at their facilities. Officials stated clearly that veterans should not attempt to self-medicate or replace prescribed care with outside substances. The VA is currently involved in 20 clinical trials related to psychedelic medicine, including studies on MDMA and LSD.