Major Depressive Diorder
Conditions
Keywords
psilocybin, cognitive behavioral therapy
Brief summary
The primary objectives of this clinical investigation are to (1) determine the acceptability and feasibility of joining psilocybin-assisted therapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy (PA-CBT) for patients with depression, (2) optimize CBT to most effectively integrate the psilocybin experience with psychotherapy and (3) examine the clinical benefit of psilocybin as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for major depressive disorder. This study is a randomized, two-arm, fixed dose trial that will test the feasibility, acceptability, and participant and therapist adherence to PA-CBT. Both treatment arms will receive two doses of psilocybin (10mg and then 25mg, separated by one month). In Phase II, participants will be randomized (1:1) to either a 12-session PA-CBT or a 6-session standard psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) condition (3 hours of preparation plus 3 hours of supportive therapy integration following the psilocybin experiences).
Interventions
Participants will receive two doses of psilocybin (10mg, 25mg).
BEHAVIORALcognitive behavioral therapy
Twelve total sessions of therapy, including manualized cognitive behavioral therapy for major depressive disorder, including psychoeducation about depression, cognitive skills, and behavioral skills as well as preparation for psilocybin.
BEHAVIORALMinimal supportive therapy
Six total therapy sessions. Preparation for psilocybin in the first three sessions plus supportive, nondirective psychotherapy in the final three sessions.
Sponsors
University of California, Los Angeles
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
The study involves randomization of 50 participants (1:1) to either PA-CBT or psilocybin-assisted therapy with minimal therapeutic support.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Ages 21-60, * Able to swallow capsules, * Patients with a current major depressive episode or a history of major depressive episodes based on the DSM-5 criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), * Active current depressive symptoms (i.e., scores \>16 on the Hamilton-Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) covering the prior 2 weeks; Hamilton, 1986), * Have an identified support person who can pick up the individual from UCLA Semel Institute and drive individual home following psilocybin sessions, * For women of child-bearing potential - using one form of highly effective contraception (e.g., oral contraceptive pill) and willingness to continue contraceptive use for duration of study * Patient has been medically cleared for the study by a physician.
Exclusion criteria
* A personal or family history (first or second-degree) of psychosis or bipolar disorder * Resting blood pressure above 140 systolic, 90 diastolic (averaged across four separate measurements) * Meeting criteria for a DSM-5 cluster B personality disorder (narcissistic, histrionic, borderline, antisocial personality disorder), * Active suicidality (as indicated by a 3 or greater on item 3 of the HAM-D) or other psychiatric disturbance requiring acute treatment * Current use of antidepressants or other serotonergic-affecting substances (e.g., St. John's Wort and 5-hydroxytryptophan), * Currently receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, * Any of the following cardiovascular conditions: uncontrolled hypertension, coronary artery disease, congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac ischemia, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, artificial heart valve, a clinically significant screening ECG abnormality, or any other significant cardiovascular condition * A history of stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) * Epilepsy or history of seizures * Insulin-dependent diabetes * Meeting criteria for a DSM-5 substance abuse or dependence within prior 6 months * Positive urine drug screen for illicit substances * Use of other psychedelics or ketamine within prior 12 months * Adverse prior reaction to a psychedelic agent * Pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Client Satisfaction Questionnaire - 8 | 4-month treatment period | Treatment acceptability as measured by the participant. Total scores range from 8 to 32, with the higher number indicating greater satisfaction. |
| Retention/Attrition | 4-month treatment period | Feasibility as measured by the number of participants retained in each treatment condition over the course of the study treatment |
| Hamilton Depression Rating Scale | 7-month study period | symptom severity scored from 0-53, with larger values indicating greater depressive severity |
| Global Assessment of Functioning | 7-month study period | psychosocial functioning scored from 0-100, with larger values indicating better functioning |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTShelby Grody
Outcome results
None listed