[REVISION HISTORY]

US VA expands psychedelic trials for veteran PTSD

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What changed

2026-08-15 02:42 UTC → 2026-08-17 06:54 UTC · added ~~removed~~

US ~~PTSD treatment expands with~~ VA expands psychedelic trials for veteran PTSD

Mid‑July reports highlighted the absence of new pharmacologic PTSD options in the U.S., prompting clinics such as AtBrainHealth Solutions in Costa Mesa to adopt the five‑day, high‑dose SAINT TMS protocol. With no approved drugs for over 25 years, many veterans continue to seek experimental psychedelic‑assisted care abroad, especially in Mexico. Domestic research is accelerating following an executive order to increase federal research funding and accelerate psychedelic‑treatment reviews. A pilot study led by Alan Davis at Ohio State University involving 12 veterans with treatment‑resistant PTSD reported that nine participants no longer met PTSD criteria one month after receiving two doses of synthetic psilocybin combined with intensive psychotherapy. ~~The 11‑week protocol included preparatory psychotherapy, two dosing sessions, and integrative therapy, with mild headache noted as the most common side effect.~~ Building on this momentum, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched the Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression (PIVOT) study. This Phase 3 study is a national, double‑blind, randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of pharmaceutical‑grade psilocybin for veterans facing both PTSD and treatment‑resistant major depressive disorder. ~~The trial aims to enroll 240~~ Expanding these efforts, the VA has initiated two new clinical trials. One randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study will test MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy in approximately 80 veterans ~~across five sites~~ suffering from both PTSD and alcohol‑use disorder at facilities in ~~Alabama, Oregon, Pennsylvania,~~ Rhode Island and Washington. Participants will undergo two dosing sessions accompanied by psychological support, with researchers monitoring depression symptoms over a six-month period. VA Secretary Doug Collins noted the trial aims to offer relief Connecticut. The VA’s broader psychedelic research portfolio now includes roughly 20 studies. Parallel to ~~service members, though~~ federal research, nonprofit organizations like the ~~study is not scheduled for completion until June 2031. While~~ Heroic Hearts Project continue to facilitate psychedelic retreats in Mexico. These programs utilize substances such as psilocybin ~~remains a Schedule 1 substance, the VA is conducting this research under strict FDA‑developed safety protocols. Widespread availability remains contingent on FDA approval~~ and ~~the resolution of psilocybin’s Schedule I status.~~ 5-MeO-DMT to help veterans manage combat-related trauma and other significant personal histories.

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