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NCT05403086PHASE2Recruiting

Pragmatic Trial of Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care

Charles S. Grob, M.D.

Start Date

1/19/2025

Completion Date

12/31/2027

Summary

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).

Detailed Description

After providing written informed consent, participants deemed eligible for this trial will be randomized to a brief course of talk therapy plus 1 dose of oral psilocybin vs the same brief course of talk therapy plus 1 dose of oral ketamine (the active control). Participants' degree of demoralization and other clinical outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety) will be assessed at 1, 2, and 5 weeks after the study drug administration. After completing the study, participants will have the option of being told which study drug they took (aka, "unblinded"); those who were randomized to the active control will be offered another brief course of talk therapy plus 1 dose of oral psilocybin, and the same sequence of outcome assessments.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 18 years to No maximum

Inclusion Criteria: General * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form and the capacity to consent to research. * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study * Is currently a patient in a study-engaged clinical site * Has a life-threatening illness and a life expectancy of ≤2 years * Has moderate-to-severe demoralization * Ability to take oral medication (capsules and liquid) Exclusion Criteria: General * Known allergic or severe reactions to the non-psychoactive components of psilocybin capsules or liquid ketamine * Treatment with another investigational drug or intervention within 1 month of signing Informed Consent Form (ICF) * If deemed by clinical judgment of the study investigators to be unsafe for undergoing the intervention Neurological * Cognitive impairment sufficient to impede the ability to complete study tasks * History of intracranial hemorrhage * Recent embolic stroke * Recent seizure * Current intracranial mass * Advanced stage of a neurologic disease that elevates risk for psychosis Cardiovascular * Uncontrolled hypertension * Clinically significant cardiac disease Respiratory * Severe pulmonary disease * Supplemental oxygen requirement Gastrointestinal * Current intractable nausea/vomiting/diarrhea * Recent, clinically significant GI bleed * Markedly abnormal liver function tests Endocrine, Renal, and Reproductive * Pregnancy or lactation * Severe renal insufficiency * Unstable insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Prohibited Medications * Antipsychotics (with exceptions) * Antidepressants (with exceptions) * Dopamine agonists * Drugs known to have adverse interactions with psilocybin or ketamine

Interventions

DRUG

Psilocybin

DRUG

Ketamine

Interested in This Trial?

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Conditions

Demoralization

Locations

Marin Cancer Care

Greenbrae, California 94904

United States

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California 90095

United States

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94518

United States

Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Torrance, California 90502

United States

Sunstone Therapies

Rockville, Maryland 20850

United States