Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat
IntroductionPsilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has shown therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders by, amongst the many effects, promoting neuroplasticity and reorganising functional connectivity across cortical and subcortical networks involved in emotion and cognition. Veteran...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| author | Grace Blest-Hopley Giuseppe Pasculli Giuseppe Pasculli Simon G. D. Ruffell WaiFung Tsang Olateju Emmanuel Kathryn M. Pate Hannes Kettner Hannes Kettner Leor Roseman David Erritzoe Robin Carhart-Harris Robin Carhart-Harris |
| author_facet | Grace Blest-Hopley Giuseppe Pasculli Giuseppe Pasculli Simon G. D. Ruffell WaiFung Tsang Olateju Emmanuel Kathryn M. Pate Hannes Kettner Hannes Kettner Leor Roseman David Erritzoe Robin Carhart-Harris Robin Carhart-Harris |
| author_sort | Grace Blest-Hopley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPsilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has shown therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders by, amongst the many effects, promoting neuroplasticity and reorganising functional connectivity across cortical and subcortical networks involved in emotion and cognition. Veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often experience chronic neurological and psychological symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This study investigates the effects of psilocybin administered in retreat settings on veterans with a history of TBI, focusing on mental health outcomes and changes in brain connectivity as measured by EEG.MethodsA total of 21 participants were recruited through the Heroic Hearts Project, which facilitated access to two six-day psilocybin retreats in Jamaica. Before the retreat, participants underwent three individual and three group coaching sessions to prepare for the experience. During the retreat, two psilocybin ceremonies were held, spaced 48 hours apart. Participants received an initial dose of 1.5g to 3.5g of dried psilocybin mushrooms, with the option to increase the second dose up to 5g. Psilocybin was administered in a tea format, under the supervision of experienced facilitators. Psychological outcomes were assessed using validated questionnaires (PCL-5, PHQ-9, STAI) at baseline (four weeks pre-retreat) and four weeks post-retreat. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure brainwave activity pre- and post-treatment. Paired t-tests were used to analyze changes in psychological scores, while EEG frequency band analysis assessed changes in brain function and connectivity.ResultsImprovements were observed across several mental health measures: PTSD (PCL-5 scores decreased by 50%, p=0.010), depression (PHQ-9 scores decreased by 65%, p<0.001), and anxiety (STAI) scores decreased by 28%, p<0.001). EEG data showed decreased delta and theta power in frontal and temporal regions, indicating potential improvements in cognitive control and emotional processing. Enhanced coherence in alpha and beta bands suggested improved neural communication.DiscussionThe study suggests that psilocybin retreats might provide improvements in psychological well-being and brain connectivity in veterans with TBI. Reduced delta power and normalised theta activity suggest better emotional regulation, while improved coherence in alpha and beta bands may reflect increased cognitive engagement. Further, these preliminary outcomes provide a potential rationale for the design and implementation of larger-scale, controlled studies to validate and expand upon these initial findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61ed7a39f4204f6dbdd2d845f2f66dec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-61ed7a39f4204f6dbdd2d845f2f66dec2025-08-20T03:44:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-08-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15943071594307Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreatGrace Blest-Hopley0Giuseppe Pasculli1Giuseppe Pasculli2Simon G. D. Ruffell3WaiFung Tsang4Olateju Emmanuel5Kathryn M. Pate6Hannes Kettner7Hannes Kettner8Leor Roseman9David Erritzoe10Robin Carhart-Harris11Robin Carhart-Harris12King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United KingdomDepartment of Computer, Automatic and Management Engineering, Faculty of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics (DIAG), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyR&D, Italian Society of Psychedelic Medicine (Societá Italiana di Medicina Psichedelica - SIMePsi), Bari, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Exeter Onaya Science, Iquitos, PeruKing’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United KingdomApplied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Research Laboratory, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, NigeriaR&D, Coruna Medical LLC, Longmont, CO, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, United KingdomPsychedelics Division, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United KingdomDepartment of Medicine, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, United KingdomDepartment of Medicine, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, United KingdomPsychedelics Division, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United StatesIntroductionPsilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has shown therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders by, amongst the many effects, promoting neuroplasticity and reorganising functional connectivity across cortical and subcortical networks involved in emotion and cognition. Veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often experience chronic neurological and psychological symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This study investigates the effects of psilocybin administered in retreat settings on veterans with a history of TBI, focusing on mental health outcomes and changes in brain connectivity as measured by EEG.MethodsA total of 21 participants were recruited through the Heroic Hearts Project, which facilitated access to two six-day psilocybin retreats in Jamaica. Before the retreat, participants underwent three individual and three group coaching sessions to prepare for the experience. During the retreat, two psilocybin ceremonies were held, spaced 48 hours apart. Participants received an initial dose of 1.5g to 3.5g of dried psilocybin mushrooms, with the option to increase the second dose up to 5g. Psilocybin was administered in a tea format, under the supervision of experienced facilitators. Psychological outcomes were assessed using validated questionnaires (PCL-5, PHQ-9, STAI) at baseline (four weeks pre-retreat) and four weeks post-retreat. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure brainwave activity pre- and post-treatment. Paired t-tests were used to analyze changes in psychological scores, while EEG frequency band analysis assessed changes in brain function and connectivity.ResultsImprovements were observed across several mental health measures: PTSD (PCL-5 scores decreased by 50%, p=0.010), depression (PHQ-9 scores decreased by 65%, p<0.001), and anxiety (STAI) scores decreased by 28%, p<0.001). EEG data showed decreased delta and theta power in frontal and temporal regions, indicating potential improvements in cognitive control and emotional processing. Enhanced coherence in alpha and beta bands suggested improved neural communication.DiscussionThe study suggests that psilocybin retreats might provide improvements in psychological well-being and brain connectivity in veterans with TBI. Reduced delta power and normalised theta activity suggest better emotional regulation, while improved coherence in alpha and beta bands may reflect increased cognitive engagement. Further, these preliminary outcomes provide a potential rationale for the design and implementation of larger-scale, controlled studies to validate and expand upon these initial findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1594307/fullpsilocybintraumatic brain injuryveteranspsychedelic therapymental healthPTSD |
| spellingShingle | Grace Blest-Hopley Giuseppe Pasculli Giuseppe Pasculli Simon G. D. Ruffell WaiFung Tsang Olateju Emmanuel Kathryn M. Pate Hannes Kettner Hannes Kettner Leor Roseman David Erritzoe Robin Carhart-Harris Robin Carhart-Harris Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat Frontiers in Psychiatry psilocybin traumatic brain injury veterans psychedelic therapy mental health PTSD |
| title | Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat |
| title_full | Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat |
| title_fullStr | Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat |
| title_short | Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat |
| title_sort | improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous eeg activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat |
| topic | psilocybin traumatic brain injury veterans psychedelic therapy mental health PTSD |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1594307/full |
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