{"id":75806,"date":"2024-01-05T18:00:06","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T18:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/01\/05\/va-plans-research-on-using-psychedelics-to-treat-ptsd-depression\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:41:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:41:36","slug":"va-plans-research-on-using-psychedelics-to-treat-ptsd-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2024\/01\/05\/va-plans-research-on-using-psychedelics-to-treat-ptsd-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"VA plans research on using psychedelics to treat PTSD, depression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs leaders plan to launch new studies on the use of psychedelic compounds<\/a> to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in veterans<\/a>, the first such scientific work by the department on the substances since the 1960s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move comes amid a growing body of research on the positive impact of compounds like methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)<\/a> and psilocybin in helping with mental health issues. However, department officials said that work so far has largely excluded veterans, and more specific investigation is needed into how those alternative treatments may positively or negatively affect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVeterans and VA researchers have told us about the potential promise of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions for some time,\u201d VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal<\/a> said in a statement released Friday. \u201cNow is our chance to study this potential method of treating veterans with PTSD and major depression across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department officials did not say when the new studies will begin or when psychedelics may be approved for broader use in veterans\u2019 mental health care. Friday\u2019s announcement by VA leaders was designed to begin soliciting study proposals from its network of researchers and academic institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\t