NIH grants $3.4M to UTHealth Houston for psilocybin addiction study

Researchers at UTHealth Houston have been awarded a five-year, $3.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate psilocybin-assisted therapy. The study aims to determine if the psychedelic compound is a viable treatment for adults suffering from both cocaine use disorder and major depressive disorder.

The clinical trial will enroll approximately 50 adults diagnosed with both conditions. Participants will undergo a 12-week program that includes up to two doses of psilocybin administered at a UTHealth Houston clinic, alongside multiple sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Co-principal investigators Thomas D. Meyer, PhD, and Joy M. Schmitz, PhD, noted that psilocybin may promote neuroplasticity and enhance communication across brain regions. This increased cognitive flexibility could help patients overcome the rigid thinking patterns often associated with these comorbid disorders.