Does Psilocybin Require Psychedelic Effects to Treat Depression?

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Trial end date: 2026-02-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Psilocybin, the chemical component of "magic mushrooms", has been administered with psychotherapy in several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) showing large and sustained antidepressant effects. In healthy volunteers, the psychedelic effects of psilocybin have been shown to be blocked by administration of serotonin (5HT)2A receptor antagonists such as risperidone.

The purpose of this "double dummy" proof-of-concept trial is to evaluate whether psilocybin's antidepressant effects are dependent on its psychedelic effects. Sixty participants with treatment-resistant depression will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) Psilocybin 25 mg plus risperidone 1 mg; 2) Psilocybin 25 mg plus placebo; and 3) Placebo plus risperidone 1 mg. The investigator's hypothesize that the combination of psilocybin and risperidone will be well tolerated, safe, and will block the psychedelic effects of psilocybin in patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Treatments: Psilocybin; Risperidone

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Outpatient adults 18 to 65 years old;

• Able to provide informed consent and read and communicate in English;

• Primary DSM-5 diagnosis of non-psychotic MDD, single or recurrent, based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5);

• Diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression defined as a baseline HamD-17 score > 14 and have not responded to two or more separate trials of antidepressants at an adequate dosage and duration;

• Ability to take oral medication;

• All bloodwork within normal limits and an eGFR above 40mL/min/1.73m2;

• Individuals who are capable of becoming pregnant: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation;

• Willing to and have tapered off current antidepressant and antipsychotic medications for a minimum of 2-weeks (or more depending on the medication) prior to baseline and for the duration of the study and whose physician confirms that it is safe for them to do so; AND

• Willing to and have tapered off current inhibitors of 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A9 and 1A10, aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors (ALDHs) and alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors (ADHs) for a minimum of 2-weeks (or more depending on the medication) prior to baseline and for the duration of the study and whose physician confirms that it is safe for them to do so;

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or individual's that intend to become pregnant during the study or are breastfeeding;

• Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within 30 days of screening;

• Have initiated psychotherapy in the preceding 12 weeks prior to screening;

• Have a DSM-5 diagnosis of substance use disorder (recreational use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and prescribed opioids are permitted) within the preceding 6-months;

• Have active suicidal ideation with intent and plan as determined by item 3 of the HamD-17;

• Any DSM-5 lifetime diagnosis of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychotic disorder (unless substance induced or due to a medical condition), bipolar I or II disorder, paranoid personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, or neurocognitive disorder as determined by medical history and the SCID-5 clinical interview;

• Any first-degree relative with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder; psychotic disorder (unless substance-induced or due to a medical condition); or bipolar I or II disorder;

• Presence of a relative or absolute contraindication to psilocybin, including a drug allergy, recent stroke history, uncontrolled hypertension, low or labile blood pressure, recent myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmic, severe coronary artery disease, or moderate to severe renal or hepatic impairment;

• Presence of baseline prolonged QTc or Torsade de Pointes as measured by the ECG or a history of long QTc syndrome or related risk factors;

• History of allergy or contraindication to risperidone including insulin-dependent diabetes, history of hypoglycemia on oral hypoglycemic agent(s)

• Lifetime use of serotonergic psychedelic drugs; OR

• Any other clinically significant physical illness including chronic infectious diseases or any other major concurrent illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the interpretation of the study results or constitute a health risk for the participant if they take part in the study.