Safety, Tolerability, Outcomes of Psilocybin for Depression (STOP Depression) in Veterans with SCI

Background

There is a high prevalence of depression in the SCI population; however, members of the SCI community have been left out of psychedelic research studies. Psilocybin belongs to a class of drugs called psychedelics. Psilocybin is produced in nature by some species of mushrooms and has been designated a breakthrough therapy for major depressive disorders by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This study will evaluate the safety and therapeutic potential of psilocybin for the treatment of depression in Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Under the leadership of Dr. Jill Wecht, participants with chronic SCI will receive one of three psilocybin doses and will be followed longitudinally for up to one year. Outcomes will include safety and tolerability, depressive symptoms, pain, muscle spasticity, and quality of life. The goal is to determine whether psilocybin can provide a safe and effective treatment for depression in individuals with SCI and to challenge the assumption that depression is an unavoidable consequence of spinal cord injury.