Psilocybin-assisted therapy to improve physician well-being and reduce burnout
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)]
This project will test whether psilocybin-assisted therapy can reduce burnout and improve well-being in physicians at UC San Diego.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase1; Phase2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Ages | 21 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Diego Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Diego, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT06814522 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This open-label Phase 1/2 trial will enroll UCSD faculty physicians experiencing persistent burnout and deliver preparatory psychotherapy, a supervised psilocybin dosing session, and post-treatment integration sessions. Burnout symptoms will be measured using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index before and after treatment, and safety and feasibility outcomes will be tracked throughout. A secondary aim is to record neurophysiological changes with EEG to explore mechanisms associated with clinical response. The protocol excludes people with psychotic or bipolar disorders, recent inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, active substance use disorder, or current use of certain psychotropic medications.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are UC San Diego faculty physicians aged 21–70 who have had burnout symptoms for more than six months, can attend all in-person visits, and do not have serious mental illness or disallowed medications.
Not a fit: Physicians with a history of psychotic or bipolar disorders, prior inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, active substance use disorder, or those taking psychotropic drugs that risk serotonin syndrome are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a rapid and durable option to reduce physician burnout and improve professional well-being.
How similar studies have performed: Small psilocybin-assisted therapy trials have shown preliminary efficacy for depression and substance use disorders, but using PAT specifically for physician burnout is novel and not yet established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 SNRI), dextromethorphan, linezolid, tramadol, meperidine Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous inpatient psychiatric hospitalization(s) 2. Previously diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychotic spectrum disorder), bipolar spectrum disorder, personality disorder (borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or other severe personality disorders), any severe psychiatric disorder. 3. Exhibiting elevated suicide risk 4. First degree family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder 5. Prior exposure to psilocybin or other psychedelic compounds in the previous 10 years 6. Currently pregnant, nursing, planning pregnancy, engaging in sexual intercourse without effective contraceptive method in last three months 7. Those who plan to donate sperm within three months following the study. 8. Known cardiovascular disease including history of stroke, myocardial infarction, uncontrolled hypertension, valvular heart disease, tachycardia, elongated QT interval, or clinically significant arrythmia. 9. History of seizure disorder 10. Use of recreational illicit drugs 11. Clinically concerning results from vital signs, ECG, physical examination, or laboratory tests during screening 12. Any other clinically significant illnesses deemed to pose risk for the participant
Where this trial is running
San Diego, California
- UC San Diego — San Diego, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jessie Kim
- Email: jbk005@health.ucsd.edu
- Phone: 619-494-0037
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.