Psilocybin clinical trials at UCSF
8 in progress, 3 open to eligible people
Neural and Physiological Correlates of Psychedelic Sub-states
open to eligible people ages 21-70
The main purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the distinct mental states and physical reactions that can arise during a psychedelic experience. By repeatedly assessing the same participants in an MRI while under the effects of psilocybin, the investigators want to identify reliable brain and body reactions arising during these psychedelic experiences. It is hoped that this will provide an insight to inspire future research on psilocybin and related psychedelics as well as inform on their therapeutic action. This study will involve up to 12 healthy volunteers with previous psychedelic experience. Participants in this study will be given four doses of psilocybin, with breaks of at least seven days in between dosing visits. The first dosing visit will feature a 10 mg dose of psilocybin, which can be considerate a low to moderate dose, whereas the remaining three dosing visits will feature 25 mg psilocybin, a high dose that is consistent with the dosage chosen for several modern clinical trials with psilocybin. From the initial in-person screening visit to the final follow-up, participants will be in this study for approximately 6-12 weeks and visit the research site 5 times. The first visit will be an in-person screening visit, during which the investigators will assess participants' eligibility to be enrolled. There will be 4 subsequent visits to the scan center for dosing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, and there will be a final remote follow up. Each of the four dosing visits will include four periods of lying within the MRI scanner for scanning, each of these 'in-scanner' sessions will last for ~ 45 minutes. Actual scans, which are also called 'runs' last for ~ 12 mins. During these 'runs', the investigators will ask participants two brief questions about how positive or negative their current experience is every 100 seconds. They will be able to record their answers using a button box which they will be operating with their hand. One day after each dosing visit, the investigators will schedule a phone call with the participant to check how they are doing and perform an informal interview focused on their experience while under the effects of psilocybin.
San Francisco, California
Psilocybin Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain
open to eligible people ages 25-70
This study evaluates whether psilocybin therapy helps patients cope with chronic low back pain more effectively. Patients may be recruited at Stanford and University of California San Francisco (UCSF), study procedures will occur at UCSF. Each participant will receive a dose of psilocybin with possibly one or more other drugs. Participants will undergo two preparation sessions, a dosing session, three integration sessions to discuss their psilocybin experience, and several follow up sessions.
San Francisco, California
Psilocybin Therapy for Depression in Parkinson's Disease
open to eligible people ages 40-80
The purpose of this study is to understand whether people with Parkinson's Disease and depression have improvement in their symptoms after psilocybin therapy.
San Francisco, California
Comparing the Effects of Psilocin and Psilocybin in Healthy Adults
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
To compare the physiological and psychological effects of psilocin taken orally by pill or sublingually by dissolving a tablet under the tongue to those of psilocybin taken by pill in healthy adults.
San Francisco, California
Interaction of Psilocybin and Context of Its Administration in Healthy Volunteers
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
One hundred twenty healthy participants, ages 21 to 70, who experience moderate-to-lower-than-average mental well-being will be evenly randomized into four different study arms, using a 2x2 factorial design. Depending on the study arm, participants will either receive an inactive placebo or up to 25mg psilocybin (oral dose), in one of two set and setting conditions; drug administration contexts that are predicted to modulate drug effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate any interaction effects between an oral dose of psilocybin and the surrounding context (set and setting).
San Francisco, California
Pragmatic Trial of Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
This multicenter, triple-blind, phase 2, randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of psilocybin therapy compared to an active control in treating demoralization in adults near the end of life (≤2 years life expectancy).
Psilocybin Therapy for Depression in Bipolar II Disorder
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of psilocybin therapy in people with Bipolar II Disorder.
San Francisco, California
Psilocybin for Anorexia in Young Adults
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
This is a single site trial of psilocybin therapy for the treatment of refractory Anorexia Nervosa in young adults. The psilocybin therapy will include three preparatory sessions, psilocybin dosing session one (20mg), two integration sessions, psilocybin dosing session two (30mg), and four final integration sessions. Eating disorder symptoms will be measured pre and post treatment. Two family members of each young adult participant will be enrolled in the study. One of which will be required to attend a portion of two preparatory sessions and a portion of two integration sessions and receive psychoeducation about supporting the young adult participant through preparation and integration for psilocybin therapy. Investigators hypothesize that psilocybin will increase cognitive flexibility and that this increase will predict long-term changes in cognitive rigidity, habitual eating, and exercise behaviors in patients with Anorexia Nervosa.
San Francisco, California
Our lead scientists for Psilocybin research studies include Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD Marissa Raymond-Flesch, MD Jennifer Mitchell, PhD Joshua Woolley.
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