RecruitingPhase 2

Psilocybin With Pimavanserin Compared to Psilocybin Alone for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Investigating the Role of Serotonin in the Mechanism of Action of Psilocybin in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
21 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 5 weeks

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Evaluations will be taken before dosing and following dosing at several timepoints up to 5 weeks post-dosing."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests psilocybin with pimavanserin compared with psilocybin with a placebo (a pill with no active drug). It is for adults ages 21–80 with major depression. Each person gets one dose of each assigned drug and has follow-up checks for up to 5 weeks.

This is an interventional, parallel arm assignment treatment study in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Each individual will be treated with a single dose of pimavanserin or placebo plus a single dose of psilocybin. Evaluations will be taken before dosing and following dosing at several timepoints up to 5 weeks post-dosing.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Age 21–80, of any gender.
  • Have major depression without psychosis (such as seeing or hearing things that are not real) or bipolar disorder.
  • Be having a current episode of major depression.
  • Score at least 16 on the study’s depression rating scale.
  • Be able to give informed consent and follow study steps.
  • Use or agree to use highly effective birth control during the study if you or your partner can become pregnant.
  • Stop drugs that affect serotonin, a brain chemical, before psilocybin. The required time is at least 2 weeks, or longer depending on how long the drug stays in the body.

Who can't join

  • A substance use disorder in the past 6 months, except tobacco; psychedelic use or non-medical ketamine use in the past year; a past bad reaction to psychedelics; or a positive urine drug test.
  • A mental health hospital stay now or in the past 6 months; past or current psychosis, mania, or bipolar disorder; or a parent, sibling, or child with psychosis, schizophrenia, related disorders, or bipolar disorder.
  • Severe depression by the study’s rating scale; significant suicidal thoughts in the past 6 months; a suicide attempt in the past 2 years; or concern about harm to yourself or others.
  • A serious, sudden, or unstable illness; important abnormal lab results; pregnancy or breastfeeding; or an allergy to either study drug.
  • Heart or blood vessel problems, abnormal heart tests, or blood pressure or pulse above study limits. A personal or family history of certain heart rhythm problems, or a family history of sudden heart-related or unexplained death, also rules out joining.
  • Taking medicines the study does not allow, including certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, medicines that affect drug breakdown, or medicines that affect heart rhythm.
  • Weight over 300 pounds, inability to fit in the MRI scanner, or anything that makes an MRI scan unsafe. MRI uses magnets to take pictures inside the body.
  • A disability, memory or thinking test result, mental health test result, or other condition that prevents safe participation or completing study tasks; difficulty working with the therapy team; or a risk of falling.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 21-80 years, any gender * Current primary diagnosis of Unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) without psychotic features using DSM-5 criteria * 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) ≥16 * Current diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode (MDE) * Capable of providing informed consent and complying with study procedures * Currently using or agreeing to use a highly effective contraception, if person of childbearing potential (such as condoms, IUD, or oral contraceptive), for duration of the study. Male participants agree to use highly effective contraception with partners of childbearing potential * Discontinuation of any serotonergic drug for at least 2 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever of the two is longer) prior to psilocybin exposure Exclusion Criteria: * Any severity of substance use disorder in the last 6 months (excluding tobacco use disorder) as determined by DSM-V criteria via the SCID * Current psychiatric hospitalization or psychiatric hospitalization within the last 6 months * Use of psychedelics in the last 12 months * Non-medical or illicit use of ketamine in the past 12 months * Negative reaction after prior use of psychedelics * Past or current psychotic disorder (including psychotic MDD), mania, or bipolar disorder * Severe depression as indicated by Clinical Global Impressions (CGI)-Severity score ≥ 5 at baseline * Significant suicidal ideation as indicated by C-SSRS \> 2 in the past 6 months at time of screening * Suicide attempt in the past 2 years, or clinician concern that the patient poses a risk to self or others * Acute, severe, or unstable medical illness * Weight \> 300 lbs., or girth size incompatible with scanner bore * Any conditions/qualities that make participation in MRI imaging unsafe\* * Any physical or intellectual disability adversely affecting ability to complete assessments. * Current pregnancy or currently breast feeding. * Any clinically significant abnormal lab test result, including clinically significant abnormal baseline liver and/or renal function tests * Currently being treated with a contraindicated medication. Contraindicated medications include antipsychotic medications, serotonergic antidepressant medications, and mood stabilizers that may attenuate the effects of psilocybin. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers are also contraindicated. UGT1A9 and UGT1A10 inhibitors, monoamine oxidase, and aldehyde or alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors are prohibited concomitant medications. * History of abnormal QT prolongation or QTc interval \>450 ms on screening * Use of medications known to prolong the QT interval * Any congenital prolongation of the QT interval or a family history of long QT syndrome * A family history of sudden cardiac or unexplained death * A family history in a first-degree relative of psychosis/schizophrenia or related disorders * A first-degree family history of bipolar disorder * A history of cardiac arrhythmias or who require treatment with an antiarrhythmic medication * A history of any cardiovascular disorder/condition known to increase the possibility of QT prolongation, or any other risk factors for prolonged QT interval/tosades de pointes (including symptomatic bradycardia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, heart failure, or Brugada Syndrome) * Preexisting cardiovascular conditions, including cardiac valvulopathy, pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, tachycardia, and any cardiovascular conditions that may be worsened/exacerbated by elevated blood pressure or heart rate. * Baseline vital sign parameters at screening and on day of dosing prior to dose that exceed to the following values for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and heart rate (HR): SBP \> 139 mmHg, DBP 89 mmHg, and HR \> 90 bpm * Hypersensitivity to either psilocybin or pimavanserin * Psychiatric or other condition judged to be incompatible with establishment of rapport with therapy team and/or safe exposure to psilocybin * Positive urine toxicology at screening * Any clinically significant abnormalities on 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) * Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \< 25 * Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-6) \> 5 * Potential fall risk

Study sites (1)

NY

  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Center for Psychedelic Therapy Research · New York, NY 10025Depression and Anxiety Center · Study contact · 212-241-6539 · dac@mssm.eduJames Murrough · Principal investigatorMore trials in New York