By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.
In today’s Research News article “Psilocybin-Assisted Group Psychotherapy + Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Frontline Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Related Depression and Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11722457/pdf/nihpp-2024.12.31.24319806v1.pdf ) Lewis and colleagues performed a randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of Mindfulness training (8-wks of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction – MBSR) with or without an additional Psychedelic drug (psilocybin) on the mental health of healthcare workers suffering from burnout and depression.
They found that the addition of the psychedelic drug significantly increased the relief of depression, burnout, and demoralization and the improvement of connectedness produced by the mindfulness training.
Hence, psychedelic drugs enhance the effectiveness of mindfulness training on burnout.
CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies
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Study Summary
Lewis BR, Hendrick J, Byrne K, Odette M, Wu C, Garland EL. Psilocybin-Assisted Group Psychotherapy + Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Frontline Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Related Depression and Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 1:2024.12.31.24319806. doi: 10.1101/2024.12.31.24319806. PMID: 39802794; PMCID: PMC11722457.
Abstract
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.