Utah has implemented a state-funded clinical trial to study psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. Following the signing of House Bill 390, also known as the Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendment, by Governor Spencer Cox on March 19, the state has established a regulated research pathway centered at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of .
The law does not permit public access or legalize psychedelic therapy. Instead, it focuses on a clinical trial overseen by federal regulators and institutional review boards to evaluate safety and feasibility within the veteran population. The authorized research involves three investigational compounds: MDMA, psilocybin, and 5-MeO-DMT.
The study protocol includes supervised dosing, preparation sessions, and post-session integration therapy. Research will specifically target veterans whose PTSD has not responded to existing evidence-based psychotherapies or FDA-approved medications.
The state has allocated $1 million to support the study, though total enrollment will depend on available funding and potential philanthropic or grant-based support. Benjamin Lewis, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Utah and the study's principal investigator, stated that the legislation provides for oversight from the FDA, DEA, and IRB.
Beyond monitoring PTSD symptoms, researchers aim to examine mechanistic outcomes, including brain activity and psychophysiological measures, to understand the biological drivers of therapeutic change.
HB390 was sponsored by Senator Kirk Cullimore and Representative Jennifer Dailey-Provost, with collaboration from researchers Anya Ragnhildstveit and Miriam Kaiyo. Dr. Lewis noted that while the study may be small, it serves as a critical first step for future research and treatment directions in Utah.
