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A psychedelic compound may lift mood in Parkinson's, and a trial puts it to the test

NCT ID NCT04932434

Symptom relief Sponsor: Joshua Woolley, MD, PhD Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 03, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers are testing whether psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, can safely help people with Parkinson's disease who also struggle with depression or anxiety. In this pilot study, 12 participants receive two oral doses of psilocybin with psychological support. The team tracks mood, Parkinson's symptoms, and any side effects to see if this approach is feasible and worth studying further.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, given as two oral doses (10 mg and 25 mg) with psychological support
What this could lead to
If it works, psilocybin therapy could offer a new way to ease depression and anxiety in people with Parkinson's disease, improving their quality of life.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study with only 12 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Psilocybin can cause temporary distress, and its effects on Parkinson's symptoms are not yet known.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

12 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Aug 2021

Finished

Dec 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

40 to 75 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 40 to 75 * Comfortable speaking and writing in English * Clinically diagnosed early stage Parkinson's Disease (Hoehn and Yahr Stage 1-3 during an "off" period) who meet DSM-5 criteria for a depressive or anxious disorder and meet all other inclusion and exclusion criteria at screening * Currently experiencing depression and/or anxiety (a formal diagnosis is not necessary) * Able to attend all in-person visits at UCSF as well as virtual visits * Have a care partner/support person available throughout the study * Have an established primary care provider, neurologist, or psychiatrist Exclusion Criteria: * Psychotic symptoms involving loss of insight * Significant cognitive impairment * Regular use of medications that may have problematic interactions with psilocybin, including but not limited to dopamine agonists, MAO inhibitors, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDAR) antagonists, antipsychotics, and stimulants * A health condition that makes this study unsafe or unfeasible, determined by study physicians

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety anxiety disorder Depression depressive disorder movement disorder Parkinson disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Anxiety Depression Parkinson disease

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

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