Magic mushroom therapy could help cancer survivors beat depression
NCT ID NCT06801041
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study tests whether psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, combined with talk therapy can safely help cancer survivors with depression or anxiety. Twenty adults who have finished cancer treatment and have no brain involvement will receive a single dose of psilocybin in a supervised outpatient setting. Researchers will track side effects and mood changes 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
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to ease depression and anxiety in cancer survivors, improving their quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Psilocybin can cause temporary psychological distress or side effects.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030, United States
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