Overview
The purpose of this study is to learn more about changes in the human brain post-psilocybin treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression. The findings may help us understand how psilocybin affects our brain and can provide foundations for psilocybin as a therapeutic for those with treatment-resistant depression. This study is being conducted at VA Palo Alto and Stanford University. To learn more about the study, read our recent article in the Stanford Magazine:
Goals
​The study aims to explore changes in brain circuits pre-post psilocybin treatment and in turn, how psilocybin can affect treatment-resistant depression.
Methods
This study plans to enroll 30 Veterans who are receiving psilocybin for the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Psilocybin
In collaboration with Dr. Trisha Suppes’ Exploratory Therapeutics Laboratory, we had the opportunity to build on the first VA trial of psilocybin in a tandem study using functional neuroimaging. The functional neuroimaging arm of the Stanford Psilocybin Veterans with Treatment Resistant Depression Study is examining the impact of a single dose of psilocybin on brain circuit function pre- and post-psilocybin dosing for each individual person. We enrolled Veterans with treatment resistant depression (TRD).
This study is an essential foundation for future projects that make progress in precision psychiatry and using psilocybin as a personalized and safe therapeutic. Through a precision neuroscience-based approach, we are assessing individualized remission profiles based on brain circuit function. We link brain function to a rich data set of measures of each person’s experience.
Faculty members involved in this study include Drs. Leanne Williams, Laura Hack and Trisha Suppes.
Meet the Team
Leanne Williams, PhD
Trisha Suppes, MD, PhD
Xue Zhang, PhD
Sara Ellis
Isabelle Wydler
Findings
This study is currently collecting data.
Funding
This study is supported through a generous donation from the Jhong Foundation.