Department of Veterans Affairs launches psilocybin trial for veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the PIVOT trial, a Phase 3 study investigating the use of psilocybin to treat veterans suffering from treatment-resistant major depression, with or without post-traumatic stress disorder. The study aims to enroll 240 veterans across five sites in Alabama, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Participants in the trial will undergo two dosing sessions accompanied by psychological support, with researchers monitoring depression symptoms over a six-month period. While VA Secretary Doug Collins noted the trial aims to offer relief to service members, the study is not scheduled for completion until June 2031.

Even after the study concludes, widespread availability remains contingent on Food and Drug Administration approval and the resolution of psilocybin’s Schedule I status under federal law. The VA has not disclosed the total cost or the specific amount of funding committed to the initiative.