Magic mushroom compound tested for Parkinson's depression

NCT ID NCT06455293

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

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a single dose of psilocybin, given with psychological support, can improve depression in people with Parkinson's disease. Sixty adults aged 40 to 80 with mild to moderate Parkinson's and depressive symptoms will receive either a low or high dose of psilocybin, along with pimavanserin or a placebo. The main goal is to see if depression scores improve after treatment.

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 drug) with psychological support, plus pimavanserin or placebo
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new way to ease depression in people with Parkinson's disease.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 60 people. Psilocybin can cause intense psychological effects, and it's not yet proven to work for this group.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder movement disorder Parkinson disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

DEPRESSION PARKINSON DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of California, San Francisco
RECRUITING

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

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