Psilocybin for PTSD

19 papers and 18 clinical trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for ptsd.

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

Full Psilocybin profile
Indication354 million people suffering from PTSD globally.

PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health challenge affecting over 354 million individuals globally. Psychedelics, particularly MDMA and psilocybin, are emerging as promising therapeutic options, offering new avenues for treatment through innovative psychotherapeutic interventions.

Full PTSD profile

Academic Research

19 papers
Open Accessindividual

Investigating the safety and tolerability of single-dose psilocybin for post-traumatic stress disorder: A nonrandomized open-label clinical trial

In a Phase 2, non-randomised open-label trial of 22 adults with PTSD, a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin administered with psychological support was generally well tolerated with no serious adverse events and mostly transient side-effects, and was associated with large, clinically meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms and improvements in functioning and quality of life sustained to 12 weeks. These results indicate single-dose psilocybin may be safe and potentially efficacious for PTSD, warranting further controlled investigation.

Published
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Agrawal, M., Das, S., Goodwin, G. M., McGowan, N. M., Modlin, N. L., Rucker, J. J., Simmons, H., Tofil-Kaluza, A., Yehuda, R.
Open Accessindividual

Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat

In a preliminary uncontrolled study of 21 veterans with traumatic brain injury, participation in two psilocybin retreat ceremonies was associated with large reductions in PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms and with EEG changes (reduced frontal/temporal delta–theta power and increased alpha–beta coherence) consistent with improved emotional regulation and neural communication. These findings suggest psilocybin retreats may improve psychological wellbeing and brain connectivity in veterans with TBI and warrant larger, controlled trials.

Published
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors
Blest-Hopley, G., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Emmanuel, O., Erritzoe, D., Kettner, H., Pasculli, G., Pate, K. M., Roseman, L., Ruffell, S. G. D., Tsang, WF.
Open Accessindividual

Psilocybin Therapy for Clinicians With Symptoms of Depression From Frontline Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a double‑blind randomised clinical trial of 30 US frontline clinicians with pandemic‑related depression, a single 25 mg psilocybin session (with preparatory and integration visits) produced a significantly greater reduction in clinician‑rated depressive symptoms at 28 days than 100 mg niacin (mean MADRS change −21.33 vs −9.33; mean difference −12.00, 95% CI −17.67 to −6.33; P < .001). Improvements in burnout and PTSD symptoms were numerically larger with psilocybin but did not reach statistical significance.

Published
Journal
JAMA Network Open
Authors
Back, A., Baker, K. K., Freeman-Young, T. K., Gooley, T. A., Harvey, K., Kaelen, M., Kelmendi, B., Kollefrath, A., McGregor, B., Morgan, L., Myers, S., Sethi, T., Sorta, D., Tai, M., Thomas, B. J.

Clinical Trials

18 trials
Not yet recruitingPhase I

A Phase 1, Open-label, Single-arm Basket Trial of the Intravenously Administered Psilocin (TRP-8803): Safety, Anxiety, and Quality of Life Across Health Conditions Characterised by Cognitive Inflexibility, Emotional Distress, and Persistent Bodily Symptom Burden

This Phase 1, open‑label, single‑arm basket trial (N=66) tests the safety and early clinical effects of intravenous psilocin (TRP‑8803) administered in two dosing sessions alongside psychotherapy over a 6‑week treatment period, with a 12‑week follow‑up. Conducted in Australia and sponsored by Tryp Therapeutics, the study enrols participants across ten diagnostic cohorts — anorexia nervosa, body dysmorphic disorder, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, generalised anxiety disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, long COVID, major depressive disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder and post‑traumatic stress disorder — to evaluate tolerability and signals of benefit in anxiety and quality of life. As a Phase 1 trial the primary outcomes focus on safety and tolerability (adverse events, vital signs and treatment‑emergent effects), with secondary or exploratory outcomes assessing changes in anxiety symptoms and health‑related quality of life using standardised, validated instruments. The single‑arm, open‑label design means there is no placebo or active comparator, and efficacy assessments are intended to generate preliminary, hypothesis‑generating data to inform the design of subsequent controlled studies. The study began recruitment in November 2025.

Started
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
12625000949482

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