Grant: Project Grant

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one of the most common substance use disorders in Canada and the sixth leading cause for death and disability nationally. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe burden to global public health. It is estimated to affect more than 300 million individuals worldwide. Depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide. In the United States, approximately 10% of the adult population has been diagnosed with MDD in the past 12 months. Individuals with both conditions have higher rates of relapse and long-term disability. There are few evidence-based treatments for AUD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and better treatments are urgently needed. Recently, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has emerged as a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. PAP has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in a previous study . Psilocybin has now been identified by the FDA as a "breakthrough therapy" for MDD. Some smaller clinical studies suggest the ability of psilocybin to decrease alcohol use. At this time, no studies have tested the potential of PAP for comorbid AUD-MDD. Given the increasing enthusiasm and evidence for the antidepressant efficacy and safety of PAP in MDD, a proof-of-concept study of this novel treatment approach for dual AUD and MDD is urgently needed.