Low-Income Group Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Depression

Due to psilocybin-assisted therapy's success in previous research, growing cultural awareness and use of psilocybin and other psychedelics, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act passed by ballot measure in 2020 and began offering services in 2023. While the program has had many successes, a significant problem it faces is affordability and no research to date has investigated the therapy in a low-income population.

Psychedelic research in recent decades has used the model of two therapists to one client to demonstrate an abundance of caution and safety to regulators, but no evidence has demonstrated this model to be safer or more effective than one with less practitioner oversight. This feasibility study would be the first investigation of Oregon Psilocybin Services as a model of care and among the first few to use a group therapy model. This study aims to test the feasibility of the model by assessing recruitment, retention, acceptability and safety of the treatment. In addition to an appropriate medical screening and intake the following questionnaire data will be collected: the Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) questionnaire, Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), Hamilton Depression Inventory, PROMIS-29, Altered States of Consciousness (11-ASC) rating scale, and a survey and structured interview.

Participants will consist of adults in Oregon with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Inclusion criteria will include DSM-5 diagnosis of major depression. Participants will be individually screened by a study investigator and placed into groups of five to six participants. Treatment will consist of two group preparation sessions, two psilocybin sessions, and two group integration sessions. An additional follow-up visit to collect further data will take place three months after conclusion of the treatment.

The proposed study will provide valuable information for designing future clinical trials investigating the efficacy, mechanisms, and cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted group therapy for depression in low-income populations.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Oregon resident - this is due to the use of telehealth services and licenses of the study clinicians and their scope of practice within the state.
* Age 21 or older - Oregon Psilocybin Services Act sets the minimum eligible age of 21.
* Income 200% or below the Federal Poverty Line - this is the criteria for Oregon Medicaid (OHP).
* DSM-5 diagnosis of Major Depression Disorder.
* Current engagement with psychotherapy - no less than six therapy sessions in the previous six months and an intention to continue seeing their therapist no less than once every two weeks during the study period. This is to ensure participants have adequate psychological support during the study period. Participants must be willing to sign a release of information allowing study clinicians to communicate with their therapists.
* At least six months of stable housing history.
* Able to attend all study events.
* Able to read and speak fluent English.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A personal or family history of an immediate family member of schizophrenia, psychosis of any kind, mania, or hypomania.
* A current prescription for lithium.
* Active suicidal ideations or history of suicide attempts. Passive ideation, such as "I wouldn't mind if I never woke up again" is permissible.
* Uncontrolled hypertension.
* Any form of personality disorder.