Participants to receive psilocybin-like drug to see if it can help reduce postpartum depression symptoms.
A new study at Cleveland Clinic is investigating the potential of a psychedelic drug to treat postpartum depression (PPD), a severe mental health condition that affects roughly 1 in 7 new mothers. The research, currently in its second phase, focuses on RE104, a proprietary drug similar to psilocybin.
Postpartum depression, which can trigger symptoms such as persistent sadness, feelings of inadequacy, sleep disturbances and a sense of detachment from one’s newborn, often goes untreated or inadequately treated. In severe cases, it can lead to thoughts of self-harm or even infanticide. Cleveland Clinic researchers hope their study will offer a promising alternative.
“Having a baby brings about a cascade of emotional, environmental, and hormonal changes, making new mothers particularly vulnerable to depression,” explains Dr. Brian Barnett, the study’s chief investigator. “Unfortunately, stigma can prevent women from seeking help, and current treatments can be slow to work and have unwanted side effects. Our goal is to offer an alternative that could provide rapid, effective relief without compromising maternal well-being or the mother-infant bond.”
Study participants will be paired with a monitor who will be present for the duration of the treatment, which will take about 2 hours. They will receive a single-dose injection of RE104 following a battery of physical and psychological tests, according to the Clinic. Participants will have several follow-up visits over the next four weeks to measure the severity of their symptoms.