Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Physician Well-Being and Burnout: Feasibility, Safety, Clinical Effectiveness and Biomarkers of Response [PAT-B (Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Physician Well-Being and Burnout)]
University of California, San Diego
Summary
Through an open-label study involving a small group of UCSD physicians experiencing burnout, the investigators will evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of PAT to reduce burnout symptoms.
Description
Physician burnout is a critical issue. Research shows that physician burnout is increasing, that physicians suffer higher rates of burnout than the general population, and that physician burnout is associated with poor mental health outcomes. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid within certain fungi that elicits acute perceptual, cognitive, and emotional changes when ingested, due to action on neurotransmitter and neurocirculatory systems. The combination of psilocybin with psychological support, termed Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (PAT), is a promising new mental health intervention s…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. UCSD faculty physician, aged 21-70. Volunteer faculty are not included 2. Meets criteria for physician burnout 3. Experiencing symptoms of burnout for \>6 months 4. Able to complete all required study visits 5. Not previously diagnosed with a serious mental illness (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression), or substance use disorder as confirmed in clinical interview 6. Not currently taking any psychotropic medications or nonpsychotropic medication that may be associated with serotonin syndrome, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI or SNR…
Interventions
- DrugPsilocybin, [3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-yl] dihydrogen phosphate
25 mg, single dose of psilocybin
Location
- UC San DiegoSan Diego, California