Psilocybin-Assisted Group Psychotherapy + Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Frontline Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Related Depression and Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Jan 13, 2025medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences

Psilocybin-Assisted Group Therapy and Mindfulness for COVID-19 Depression and Burnout in Frontline Healthcare Workers: A Randomized Trial

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Abstract

A total of 25 participants were enrolled in a trial evaluating psilocybin-assisted therapy plus mindfulness training for healthcare providers experiencing depression and burnout.

Participants receiving psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) plus mindfulness training showed a larger decrease in depressive symptoms compared to those receiving mindfulness training alone.
Significant between-group differences were observed in burnout subscales, indicating greater relief for those in the MBSR plus PAP group.
12 study-related adverse events were recorded, all classified as Grade 1-2, with no serious adverse events reported.
Improvements were noted in additional measures of demoralization and connectedness for the group receiving psilocybin-assisted therapy.

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OBJECTIVE: This clinical trial sought to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of psilocybin and MBSR for frontline healthcare providers with symptoms of depression and burnout related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial that enrolled physicians and nurses with frontline clinical work during the COVID-19 pandemic and symptoms of depression and burnout. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an 8-week MBSR curriculum alone or an 8-week MBSR curriculum plus group psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) with 25mg psilocybin. Symptoms of depression and burnout were assessed at baseline, and 2-weeks and 6-months post intervention utilizing the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR-16) and Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Professionals (MBI-HSS-MP), respectively. Secondary outcome measures included the Demoralization Scale (DS-II) and the Watt's Connectedness Scale (WCS). Adverse events and suicidality were assessed through 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS: 25 participants were enrolled and randomized. There were 12 study-related AEs recorded that were Grade 1-2 and no serious AEs. There was larger decrease in QIDS score for the MBSR+PAP arm compared to MBSR-only from baseline to 2-weeks post-intervention and significant between-group differences favoring MBSR+PAP on subscales of the MBI-HSS-MP as well as the DS-II and WCS.

CONCLUSIONS: Group psilocybin-assisted therapy plus MBSR was associated with clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms without serious adverse events and with greater reduction in symptoms than MBSR alone. Study findings suggest that integrating psilocybin with mindfulness training may represent a promising treatment for depression and burnout among physicians and nurses.

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Psilocybin-Assisted Group Psychotherapy + Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Frontline Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Related Depression and Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial

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