Real-World Evidence in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Bendable Therapy is producing the first systematic evidence on the safety and effectiveness of legal psilocybin services in the United States — and we partner with researchers, foundations, and institutions to expand this work.
medRxiv preprint · March 2026
A Landmark Study in Psychedelic Medicine
In March 2026, Bendable Therapy, Osmind, and Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences released the first systematic study of mental health outcomes from a U.S. regulated psilocybin program. Conducted at Bendable's licensed service center between March 2024 and April 2025, the IRB-approved study followed 88 adults through preparation, a supervised psilocybin session, and 30-day follow-up — using validated clinical scales for depression (PHQ-8), anxiety (GAD-7), and well-being (WHO-5).
The findings demonstrated effictiveness across every measure, even among participants on psychiatric medications and those with complex mental health histories — populations typically excluded from clinical trials. The full preprint is available on medRxiv, with peer-reviewed publication forthcoming.
What the Data Shows
On average across participants, we saw meaningful reduction of mental health symptoms, and improved well-being at 30 days post session.
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51%
Average reduction in depression symptoms
PHQ-8: 9.15 → 4.52
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The study showed efficacy even when clients are on existing psychiatric medications. 47% of participants were taking mental health medications, and improvements held across both subgroups.
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Minimal side effects. 2.3% reported symptoms that caused significant distress at 1 day post-session, and none reported them at 30 days.
PHQ, GAD-7 and WHO-5 are well-established clinical questionnaires used by doctors and researchers worldwide. PHQ-8 (Patient Health Questionnaire) is the standard 8-question depression screening tool used in primary care. GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale) is the most widely used 7-question anxiety screener. WHO-5 (World Health Organization Well-Being Index) is the WHO's 5-question measure of psychological well-being.
59%
Average reduction in anxiety symptoms
GAD-7: 8.22 → 3.36
65%
of all participants reached normal well-being (up from 7% pre-session)
WHO-5: 4.81 → 15.5
Now Recruiting
A New Study in Active Recruitment
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
A partnership between Bendable Therapy and Osmind
Building on the findings from our Oregon outcomes study, Bendable and Osmind have launched the first IRB-approved investigation of psilocybin-assisted therapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome — a debilitating chronic pain condition affecting an estimated 200,000 Americans. CRPS often resists conventional treatment, and emerging evidence suggests psilocybin may help by changing how the brain processes pain.
Eligible participants receive the full Bendable program at no cost — virtual screening, preparation sessions, an in-person psilocybin session in Bend, Oregon, and integration support — with travel and lodging reimbursed up to $1,000. The study is now actively recruiting adults with a CRPS Type 1 diagnosis.
Why Real-World Evidence Matters
Most psilocybin research to date has come from tightly controlled clinical trials with carefully screened participants — often excluding people taking psychiatric medications or carrying complex mental health diagnoses. As psilocybin moves toward broader regulatory approval, evidence is needed from the populations who will actually receive care: people with real lives, real medication regimens, and real complexity.
Bendable serves a national audience. 47% of study participants traveled from outside Oregon to receive care.
Bendable's study addresses the real-world evidence gap directly. Of the 88 participants, 51% had a depression diagnosis, 42% anxiety, and 19% PTSD. Smaller numbers carried diagnoses of acute stress, OCD, eating disorders, or bipolar. Many had more than one. Nearly half were taking psychiatric medications. Improvements held across all of these subgroups.
Licensed Facility
All sessions conducted in state licensed service centers with licensed facilitators, and without the years-long Schedule I research pathway.
Data Capture
Validated outcome measures (PHQ-8, GAD-7, WHO-5), psychedelic-specific scales, and detailed clinical case notes.
Run Your Study With Us
Bendable is one of the only operational research environments in the U.S. where psilocybin can be studied in a legal, real-world therapeutic setting.
For researchers, foundations, and institutions, partnering with Bendable means accessing a fully operational, IRB-experienced, legally licensed psilocybin services environment — with the recruitment pipeline, clinical staff, data infrastructure, and analytical capability to take a study from design to publication.
Email us at contact@bendabletherapy.org to learn how we can help design and run your study
Recruitment & Screening
A robust applicant pipeline and trained clinical screening protocols with customized participant requirements
Analysis with Osmind
Through our partnership with Osmind, structured outcomes data is analyzed using their validated mental health research infrastructure.
Protocol Delivery
Licensed facilitators conduct preparation, dosing sessions, and integration according to study design.
Publication Support
End-to-end support from study design through manuscript preparation, in collaboration with experienced research authors.
Why the Model of Care Matters
Oregon's regulatory minimums require one preparation session and offer one optional integration session. Bendable's program goes substantially further: comprehensive screening, multiple preparation sessions, and structured integration support delivered by licensed facilitators — many of whom hold additional clinical health credentials. Eighty percent of study participants completed at least one integration session.
The study's authors directly attribute the strong outcomes and low rate of adverse events partly to this enhanced supportive framework. The model of care — not just the medicine — appears to be a critical ingredient in safe, effective psychedelic therapy.
Collaborators
Bendable's research is strengthened by an extraordinary group of academic, clinical, and philanthropic partners. Our first study was done in collaboration with Dr. Robert Carrhart-Harris and Osmind, and funded by the Jurvetson Foundation.
Get In Touch
For research collaboration, partnership inquiries, media questions, or general interest in Bendable's work, email us at contact@bendabletherapy.org