This study aims to investigate the effects of a single dose of psilocybin, delivered in the contextof pre- and post-dose psychotherapy, on symptoms of depression and burnout suffered by healthcare clinicians as a result of frontline work in the COVID pandemic.
Aim 1: To assess short- and longer-term effects of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) on symptoms of depression experienced by physicians and nurses with frontline work exposure in the COVID pandemic. Hypothesis 1.1: Compared to active placebo, PAP will result in short term improvement in symptoms of depression 1 day and 1 week after the psilocybin dose session. Hypothesis 1.2: Compared to active placebo, PAP will result in longer term improvement of symptoms of depression 4 weeks after the medication dosing session. The primary outcome will be a comparison between the psilocybin 25 mg vs control groups of a combination of depression symptoms measured at 4 weeks post medication dose session. 1.1.2. Aim 2: To explore short- and longer-term effects of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) on symptoms of burnout experienced by physicians and nurses with frontline work exposure in the COVID pandemic. Hypothesis 2.1: Compared to active placebo, PAP will result in short term improvement in symptoms of burnout 1 day and 1 week after the psilocybin dose session.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
30
PAP + psilocybin 25 mg
PAP + niacin 250mg
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale
Assesses symptoms of depression (clinician-assessed): minimum score 0, max 60; higher score indicates more severe symptoms
Time frame: 4-weeks post psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale
Assesses symptoms of depression (clinician-assessed): minimum score 0, max 60; higher score indicates more severe symptoms
Time frame: 24 weeks post-psilocybin in the randomized phase psilocybin arm
Stanford Fulfillment Index
Assesses professional burnout in 3 components that are scored separately (professional fulfillment, interpersonal disengagement, work exhaustion)
Time frame: 1,4,8,12,24 -weeks post psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL5)
Assesses symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder; minimum score 0, max 80; higher scores indicate more severe symptoms of PTSD
Time frame: 4 weeks post-psilocybin or placebo session
Moral Injury Symptom Scale
Assesses symptoms of moral injury: minimum score 10, max 100; higher score indicates more severe symptoms
Time frame: 4, 24 weeks post-psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
Beck Depression Index
Assess self-reported symptoms of depression: minimum score 0, max 63; higher score indicates more severe symptoms of depression
Time frame: 1, 4, 8, 12, 24-weeks post-psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
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