VA Puget Sound Health Care System (Photo: Kris Boudreau)
The VA has launched a clinical trial to study whether psilocybin can safely help Veterans with major depression that has not responded to conventional treatment, including those who also have PTSD.
The study was announced Aug. 5 under the name Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression, or PIVOT. Researchers will track changes in depression symptoms, possible side effects, and how participants assess their own condition after receiving psilocybin under medical supervision.
Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms and is being studied as a possible treatment for several mental health conditions. The VA trial involves pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin administered in a controlled clinical setting, along with psychological support and safety procedures developed in coordination with the FDA.
PIVOT will enroll Veterans with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, including some who also have PTSD. Because the study is centered on depression, Veterans with PTSD must also meet the criteria for treatment-resistant depression to participate. Researchers will compare two psilocybin dosage levels and monitor how participants respond to each.
The trial will be conducted at five VA locations: the Birmingham VA Health Care System and Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in Alabama, VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon, and Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia.
The study comes as interest in psychedelic-assisted treatment continues to grow, particularly for patients who have not found relief through established therapies.
Federal attention to the research has grown as well. An April executive order called on federal agencies to accelerate research and regulatory efforts involving psychedelics for serious mental illness. It called for closer coordination among the VA, FDA, and Department of Health and Human Services to expand clinical trial participation and improve the sharing of research data. The VA alone is currently involved in 20 clinical trials examining psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions.
Veteran opinion on psychedelic treatment, however, remains mixed. A 2026 RAND survey showed that just over half of Veterans were open to the VA covering psilocybin-assisted treatment once it receives FDA approval. Less than a quarter supported legal access to psilocybin mushrooms outside medical care, while 45 percent favored VA participation in MDMA-assisted treatment. Veterans were more receptive to psychedelic treatment when it was tied to medical care rather than general use. That difference may become more relevant as federal researchers examine whether these drugs could eventually become another option for Veterans who have not responded to existing care.
Psilocybin remains an experimental option within VA research and is not an FDA-approved treatment for either depression or PTSD. The VA has cautioned Veterans against self-medicating with psychedelics or replacing established treatment with unprescribed substances. Whether psilocybin eventually becomes an approved treatment will depend on the findings from PIVOT and other clinical trials, along with future FDA decisions.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
