A Randomized Neuroimaging Trial of Psilocybin in Depression

What this study is about

The goal of this neuroimaging clinical trial is to test whether psilocybin produces significant immediate changes in functional brain activity in networks associated with mood regulation and depression compared to placebo in patients with depression. The trial aims to determine if psilocybin: 1. Changes connectivity within brain networks associated with mood and depression 2. Changes blood flow in brain regions associated with mood and depression Participants will be attend two treatment sessions where they receive an oral medication and supportive psychotherapy. At each session, participants will undergo an MRI scan after drug administration but prior to psychotherapy. Participants will be randomly to assigned to one of two groups that will receive, 1) microcrystalline cellulose (25mg) at the first visit and psilocybin (25mg) at the second visit, or 2) psilocybin (25mg) at both visits, respectively. Differences between groups will be compared to understand what effects on brain activity are specific to psilocybin.

Who can join (things the study team will check)

✅ You may be able to join if…

• Able and voluntarily willing to provide written informed consent at the screening visit
• Over 18 and under 65 years old
• Able to complete all protocol required assessment tools without any assistance or alteration to the copyrighted assessments, and to comply with all study visits
• Must have a responsible individual/caregiver who is able to monitor the participant at home for 24 hours after each treatment visit in the study
• Must have a psychiatrist and/or general practitioner who is able to provide psychiatric follow-up care
• Have a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) confirmed diagnosis of MDD, recurrent or single episode without psychotic features where the duration of the current episode is at least 3 months
• Depression of at least moderate severity as defined by a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score >17

🚫 You may not be able to join if…

• Current or past history of bipolar I/II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychotic disorder, or delusional disorder as assessed by a structured clinical interview (MINI)
• A clinical diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder and/or paranoid personality disorder (defined as meeting DSM-5 criteria) based on clinical interview and the MINI 7.0. Positive diagnoses on the MINI will be subject to confirmation at a clinical interview by a psychiatrist.
• An active clinical diagnosis of borderline personality disorder as confirmed by the MINI 7.0.
• Depression secondary to other medical conditions or bipolar I and II disorder
• Family history of a first degree relative with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or a primary psychotic disorder and/or bipolar disorder
• Any symptoms consistent with psychosis
• Any symptoms consistent with hypomania and/or mania as assessed by a psychiatrist
• Personal history of ≥ 1 suicide attempt in the past year requiring hospitalization, defined using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) (Q6 (past year) = "y") and clinical interview with a psychiatrist
• Other personal circumstances or behavior judged to be incompatible with establishment of rapport or safe exposure to psilocybin
• Women who are pregnant (self-report or via urine test), nursing, or planning a pregnancy
• Lifetime history of substance use disorder with a hallucinogen
• Lifetime history of substance-induced psychosis
• Positive urine drug screen for illicit drugs or drugs of abuse at screening, a week prior to treatment, and during the trial (any positive urine drug test will be reviewed with participants to determine the pattern of use and eligibility will be determined at the investigator's discretion)
• Abnormal and clinically significant results on a physical examination performed within one month of study participation by a general practitioner, vital signs, ECG, or laboratory test at screening
• QTc prolongation on ECG
• Uncontrolled or insulin-dependent diabetes
• History of seizure disorder except for seizures from electroconvulsive therapy and/or febrile seizures in childhood
• Diagnosis of any mild or major neurocognitive disorder meeting DSM-5 criteria and based on clinical interview/cognitive screening by a psychiatrist
• History of stroke, recent myocardial infarction (< 1 year from signing of ICF), uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg) or clinically significant arrhythmia within 1 year of signing the ICF
• Any other clinically significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal 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 he/she takes part in the study

+ 4 more criteria — see the full checklist in the app.

Where this trial is running

• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Who to contact

EMBRACE Team · 416-480-4085 · embrace@sunnybrook.ca

It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT06072898.