Germany allows therapeutic use of psilocybin for the first time outside clinical trials
The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has officially approved a Compassionate Use program for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Two institutions have received authorization:
- The Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim;
- The OVID Clinic in Berlin.
Psilocybin, provided by the Canadian company Filament Health, is intended exclusively for adult patients who have not responded to previous depression treatments. The therapy is delivered in a carefully structured, medically supervised setting, with full preparation and integration.
As OVID Clinic Director notes:
“We never use psilocybin in isolation — only as part of a multi-professional, integrative approach that considers the psyche, body, and life context of the individual.”
The program is implemented in partnership with the MIND Foundation, which has also developed the Augmented Psychotherapy Training (APT) course for physicians and psychotherapists.
With the support of the International Renaissance Foundation #irf
