Medical milestone: Psilocybin therapy possible outside of studies for the first time in Germany

Psilocybin therapy available in Germany for the first time – Compassionate Use Program

Psilocybin therapy is now available in Germany for the first time outside of scientific studies. The OVID Clinic Berlin is a specialized treatment center for people with treatment-resistant depression and is now part of an officially approved compassionate use program for psilocybin therapy. The compassionate use program is not a substitute for psilocybin approval. We expect that the demand for treatment will significantly exceed capacity.

Berlin, July 28, 2025 – Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in Germany. Although there are many effective treatment methods, around 20 to 30 percent of those affected do not respond adequately to treatment and are therefore considered treatment-resistant. In numerous scientific studies in recent years, psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression.

With the approval of a compassionate use program for psilocybin by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), a significant step forward has been made in psychiatric care. The OVID Clinic Berlin is one of the first two institutions in Germany and the European Union, alongside the Central Institute for Mental Health (ZI) in Mannheim, to be allowed to treat severely depressed patients with psilocybin under an officially approved exceptional procedure. The project is aimed exclusively at adult patients with treatment-resistant depression who have not responded to previous treatments.

Specialized day clinic for psychedelic-assisted therapies

The OVID Clinic Berlin specializes in the use of psychedelic methods in a psychotherapeutic and medically structured context. Under the medical direction of Dr. med. Andrea Jungaberle and Prof. Dr. med. Gerhard Gründer, patients have been receiving innovative, mindfulness-based, and integrative treatment methods for years, including ketamine-augmented psychotherapy. Psilocybin therapy is now available on an inpatient basis, embedded in a carefully coordinated setting with intensive therapeutic preparation, implementation, and aftercare. The compassionate use program for psilocybin therapy is led by the medical director of the OVID Clinic Berlin, Prof. Gerhard Gründer, MD, who also initiated and completed the first German phase II study on psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

"We do not treat patients with psilocybin in isolation, but always as part of a multi-professional and integrative therapeutic approach that takes into account the psyche, body, and life context in equal measure," says Chief Physician Dr. med. Andrea Jungaberle, specialist in anesthesiology and medical psychotherapist, co-founder of the OVID Clinic Berlin. "With our many years of clinical experience in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, we can offer patients new therapeutic approaches in a safe and professionally supervised setting."

Complementary to studies: medically supervised individual case treatment

In contrast to clinical study protocols, the compassionate use procedure allows for a more individualized and patient-centered approach to therapy. Nevertheless, the treatment is subject to the highest medical and ethical standards and follows the official guidelines of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Psilocybin is provided by the Canadian manufacturer Filament Health. Their Psilocybin is naturally derived from a type of mushroom.

Connection to the MIND Foundation – Expertise from science and continuing education

The OVID Clinic is closely affiliated with the MIND Foundation, a European organization that has been working for more than eight years to promote the responsible integration of psychedelic practices into medicine and society. Dr. sc. hum. Henrik Jungaberle, founding director of MIND, is instrumental in the development of the medical-psychotherapeutic training program Augmented Psychotherapy Training (APT). This continuing education program for physicians and psychotherapists will start for the eighth time in November 2025. The APT content also forms the basis for psychedelic therapy at the OVID Clinic Berlin.

"With Compassionate Use, we are creating a clinical application space where research knowledge, medical care, and psychotherapeutic experience can be meaningfully combined," says Henrik Jungaberle.

Patient inquiries and information

Due to the limited number of cases and the careful selection process, a comprehensive medical and therapeutic pre-selection is required. Interested patients and physicians can find out more about the requirements and contact details on the OVID Clinic Berlin website: Information https://ovid-clinics.de/en/psilocybin-therapie-berlin Patient inquiries info@ovid-clinics.de

Media Contact

OVID Clinic Berlin
Dr. Andrea Jungaberle Boxhagener Straße 82
10245 Berlin

Email presse@ovid-clinics.com
Phone +49 30 293 673 33
Website ovid-clinics.com

Press release from ZI Mannheim https://www.zi-mannheim.de/en/institute/news/ compassionate-use-program-for-psilocybin-possible-for-the-first-time-in-germany

About OVID Clinic Berlin

The OVID Clinic Berlin is a private day clinic and practice. Its focus is on integrative psychiatry, guideline-based psychotherapy, and psychedelic-assisted methods. The interdisciplinary team works at the intersection of evidence-based medicine, mindfulness-oriented psychotherapy, and modern neuroscience. The OVID Clinic is closely affiliated with the non-profit MIND Foundation and is committed to the development and professionalization of new treatment methods in psychiatry.

OVID Clinic Berlin
Boxhagener Str. 82
10245 Berlin
Germany

https://ovid-clinics.com

Frau Dr. med.Andrea Jungaberle
+493029367633

andrea.jungaberle@ovid-clinics.com

The OVID Clinic Berlin is a private day clinic and practice. Its focus is integrative psychiatry, psychotherapy according to guidelines and psychedelic-assisted procedures. The interdisciplinary team works at the interface between evidence-based medicine, mindfulness-oriented psychotherapy and modern neuroscience. The OVID Clinic is closely associated with the non-profit MIND Foundation and is committed to the development and professionalization of new treatment methods in psychiatry.

Prof. Dr. med. Gerhard Gründer, Dr. med. Andrea Jungaberle and Dr. sc. hum. Henrik Jungaberle initiated the first German psilocybin study, EPIsoDE, or accompanied it as researchers and therapists. It was funded by the BMBF.

This release was published on openPR.