Psilocybin PTSD: Exploring innovative treatment options for veterans

Nov 3

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after an individual experiences or witnesses a terrifying, stressful, or traumatic event. It can result from a single or several experiences, which include assault, combat, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, abuse, and even serious health conditions.

In veterans, post traumatic stress disorder is slightly more common than in civilians. It can develop after traumatic events during military service, such as combat, training, and military sexual trauma. Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be treated with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and medication, among others. However, many of these treatments fall short in efficacy for PTSD patients.

The lack of effectiveness in treatments and the posttraumatic stress disorder itself can lead many patients to develop other mental health disorders, such as major depressive disorder, treatment resistant depression, or substance use disorders. The initial diagnosis for post traumatic stress disorder is acute stress disorder in some cases.

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PTSD symptoms

Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms include:

Re-experiencing: traumatic and intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares related to the traumatic event.
Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger memories of the trauma.
Negative changes in thoughts and feelings: Persistent negative thoughts or beliefs, feelings of guilt or blame, loss of interest in activities, or feeling detached from others.
Hyperarousal and reactivity: Being easily startled, feeling constantly on guard (hypervigilance), irritability, or angry outbursts. Other symptoms can include difficulty sleeping, panic attacks, and increased risk-taking behaviors.

While the limited efficacy of current treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder can be deeply overwhelming, there is a new hope: clinical trials have shown promising results regarding the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs. In this case, psilocybin treatment has shown positive outcomes for many PTSD patients nationwide.

We provide professionally guided and legal psilocybin experiences in Oregon. Book an exploration call if you feel curious about this approach.

The critical need for innovative approaches to posttraumatic stress disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating condition and affects a large number of veterans. As we mentioned, the efficacy of current treatment options for PTSD is underwhelming. This is highly concerning, since the lack of proper treatment can worsen this condition. Many veterans develop treatment resistant depression, major depressive disorder, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, and substance abuse disorder.

This is why the need for an effective treatment, or a wider range of options (no treatment is a one-size-fits-all) is critical. While traditional therapy or cognitive processing therapy can be helpful, in some cases it's simply not enough. This is where psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs enter the scene: the clinical trials have shown that psilocybin treatment could be life-changing.

Benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy for PTSD

Preliminary findings in psychedelic research have shown the potential benefits of psilocybin treatment for PTSD are linked to its ability to induce a temporary state of altered consciousness and brain flexibility, which is then harnessed in a therapeutic setting for the most positive outcomes.

One of the most important benefits of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treating PTSD is rapid and sustained symptom reduction. Unlike traditional medications that require daily, long-term use, psilocybin treatment aims to produce significant, lasting relief of PTSD symptoms after only one or a few dosing sessions combined with talk therapy (also known as integration)

Learn more about our psilocybin programs here.

Psilocybin for treating PTSD symptoms also facilitates trauma processing, allowing the patient to revisit and process traumatic memories without the overwhelming distress and avoidance typically seen in PTSD. This happens because psilocybin may decrease the activity of the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) and increase connectivity between brain regions. This can temporarily reduce fear, defensiveness, and emotional blunting.

Other benefits include:

Promotes brain plasticity (neuroplasticity): Psilocybin enhances the brain's ability to form new neural connections, which may help PTSD patients break free from rigid, fear-based thought patterns and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Emotional and psychological breakthroughs: Profound personal insights, a sense of self-compassion, and mystical experiences characterized by feelings of unity or oneness, which help patients reframe their trauma and find new perspectives.
High efficacy for treatment-resistant depression: Shows promise for individuals with PTSD and related conditions who have not responded well to traditional antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs) or psychotherapy.
Low abuse potential: When administered in a controlled, safe, and legal setting, psilocybin has been shown to have low toxicity and a minimal risk of addiction.

How psilocybin differs from other mental health treatments

Traditional medications require daily, continuous use, while psychedelic drugs or psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy involve fewer dosing sessions followed by integration therapy. The number of dosing sessions can vary, but they generally go from 1 to 2 sessions, and the treatment outcomes remain positive and sustained for long periods of time.

Psychedelic medicine is also used as a "catalyst." When combined with psychotherapy, psilocybin treatment can dramatically accelerate emotional processing and insight, rather than acting as a daily symptom management drug.

Treating PTSD and other mental disorders with psilocybin is not about managing symptoms, but addressing the root cause. It facilitates a core shift in perspective and neural pathways, attempting to resolve the source of the trauma, whereas traditional medication primarily targets symptom relief (e.g., reducing anxiety or depression).

While managing the symptoms can be a functional strategy at first, many patients question the efficacy of surface-level treatment for extended periods of time. It is also concerning when it comes to patient safety, since the continued use of mental health medication can cause serious side effects, including addiction.

Clinical trials and research

Psilocybin, the compound known for its ability to alter mood, perception, and sense of self by binding to serotonin receptors, is being actively investigated for various mental health conditions, including treatment resistant depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Researchers believe that its effects on neuroplasticity and the capacity to facilitate a non-ordinary state of consciousness may help patients process traumatic memories and shift rigid thought patterns.

There are clinical trials, including Phase 2 trials (like the PsiPTSD trial), that are underway or planned to evaluate the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. These trials aim to provide structured, peer-reviewed data.

While the general promise of psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD is high (often driven by strong results from MDMA-assisted therapy), the specific efficacy data for psilocybin in treating PTSD is still developing. Some researchers have called for more studies and clinical trials specifically on psilocybin for posttraumatic stress disorder, arguing its known benefits for anxiety and depression and other emerging evidence suggest it may also be effective for trauma.

In addition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) has been used to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy, and has found it to be an effective treatment for complex PTSD.

We recommend that you see: Questions to ask before booking a psilocybin retreat

Treatment of life-threatening conditions

In addition to treating PTSD, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy has also been used to treat life-threatening conditions, including terminal or life threatening cancer, and has been found to be highly effective in substantial and sustained decreases of anxiety and depression.

Psilocybin administration could also have a positive impact on existential distress, helping patients come to terms with their mortality. Life-threatening conditions can also cause chronic stress, and psychedelic research has proven psilocybin's efficacy when it comes to reducing this symptom.

Future research directions

Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term effects of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and should compare it to other therapies. It should also focus on evaluating the therapeutic potential of psychedelic therapy for other mental disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and psychotic disorders (e.g. bipolar disorder and schizophrenia).

While preliminary findings of psychedelic therapy, especially psilocybin, are deeply promising; research should also explore the therapeutic potential on cognitive impairment, cognitive function, and emotional processing in order for the benefits and risk factors to be fully understood.

You can also read: How do psychedelics enhance traditional psychotherapy?

What is the participation criteria for psychedelic research?

For patient safety, researchers should have a strict participation criteria for clinical trials. Some examples include:

Eligible participants are adults aged 21 to 80's without current severe alcohol use disorder or substance use that could impact treatment safety or efficacy. Exclusion applies to those likely to be re-exposed to index trauma, lacking social support, psychological support, or a stable living situation.

Participants must not have used other investigational drugs within 30 days before enrollment, and medical cannabis use is restricted on dosing days at the discretion of the research psychiatrist.

Finally, every participant must meet the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM-5) criteria for traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and must have a history of treatment-resistant depression or major depressive disorder.

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