Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Physician Well-Being and Burnout

This open-label trial (n=10) will study the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT/Psi-AT) in reducing burnout symptoms among physicians at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Participants will receive a single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin alongside preparatory and integrative therapy.

Physician burnout is a growing concern, with research indicating higher rates of burnout among doctors compared to the general population, leading to poor mental health outcomes. Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic, has shown promise in improving mental health conditions such as depression and substance use disorders. This study aims to explore whether PAT can enhance well-being in physicians experiencing burnout, as well as identify neurophysiological changes associated with treatment response.

Burnout severity will be measured using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI), with follow-up assessments conducted over 12 weeks. The study is expected to run from April 2025 to July 2026.

Trial Details

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 shown to produce rapid and sustained improvements in psychological domains affected in burnout. PAT demonstrates preliminary efficacy as a treatment for depression and substance use disorders, is associated with brain changes measured with electroencephalography (EEG) and is a strong candidate treatment for physician burnout. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of PAT to enhance well-being in University of California, San Diego (UCSD) physicians experiencing burnout. A secondary aim is to identify neurophysiological changes associated with response to PAT. Physicians experiencing burnout will be recruited in an open-label trial involving preparatory therapy sessions, psilocybin treatment, and post-treatment integration. Burnout will be measured with the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI).

Trial Number NCT06814522

Data attribution

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