Psychedelic drug could lift spirits in final years
NCT ID NCT05403086
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether psilocybin therapy can reduce demoralization in adults with a life expectancy of two years or less. One hundred participants will receive either psilocybin or an active control (ketamine) in a triple-blind design. The goal is to see if this approach safely improves emotional well-being in palliative care.
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)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to ease deep distress and improve quality of life for people near the end of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a mid-stage trial with only 100 people, so results may not apply to everyone. Psychedelic therapy can cause temporary confusion or emotional discomfort.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
RECRUITINGTorrance, California, 90502, United States
-
Marin Cancer Care
RECRUITINGGreenbrae, California, 94904, United States
-
Sunstone Therapies
RECRUITINGRockville, Maryland, 20850, United States
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University of California, Los Angeles
RECRUITINGLos Angeles, California, 90095, United States
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University of San Francisco
RECRUITINGSan Francisco, California, 94518, United States
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