Magic mushroom therapy tested for ALS depression
NCT ID NCT06656702
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) can help ease depression and improve quality of life in people with ALS. Researchers will enroll 24 adults with ALS and depressed mood to see if the therapy is feasible and reduces symptoms. The goal is to find new ways to support mental health in this serious disease.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 24 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: 1. Patients aged 18 years and older. 2. Patients must fulfill ALS El Escorial criteria for possible, probable, laboratory supported probable or definite ALS. 3. Patients with a pulmonary forced vital capacity (FVC) \>50%. The investigators have chosen this measure of function to account for respiratory decompensation during the 6-month longitudinal portion of the study. 4. Patients with ability to swallow tablets by mouth. Participants may have a feeding tube, but must be able to swallow by mouth and cannot use the feeding tube to administer the psilocybin tablet. 5. Clinically significant depressive symptoms as evidenced by an Assessment of Depression Inventory (ADI)-12 score \>22. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with severe speech impairments, including those who are nonverbal, require assisted speech devices, and those who can only communicate by writing or texting. 2. Patients who are unable to consent for themselves. 3. Patients with tracheostomy or continuous continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or BiPAP. 4. Known clinical evidence of frontotemporal dementia. 5. Cardiovascular conditions: corrected QT interval (QTc) \>450 msec, uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure (SBP)\> 139 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP)\> 89 mm Hg), resting heart rate (HR)\> 90 beats per minute, angina, a clinically significant ECG abnormality (e.g., atrial fibrillation), transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the last 6 months, stroke, peripheral or pulmonary vascular disease (no active claudication). 6. Epilepsy with history of seizures 7. Renal disease (creatinine clearance \<40 ml/min using the Cockraft and Gault equation) 8. Insulin-dependent diabetes; if taking oral hypoglycemic agent, then no history of hypoglycemia 9. Females who are pregnant (positive pregnancy test) or nursing, or are not practicing an effective means of birth control (i.e., intrauterine systems/devices, hormonal methods including implant, shot, patch, ring, or oral contraceptive, condom, diaphragm, sterilization, and abstinence). 10. Currently taking medications that interact with psilocybin on a regular (e.g., daily) basis: Atypical antidepressants, such as mirtazapine (Remeron), trazodone (Oleptro), vortioxetine (Brintellix), and vilazodone (Viibryd); Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, trimipramine (Surmontil), and protriptyline (Vivactil); and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Selegiline (Emsam), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil) and isocarboxazid (Marplan). 11. Currently taking Nuedexta (dextromethorphan/quinidine combination), efavirenz, Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors such as disulfiram (Antabuse), Alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors, or UGT1A9 inhibitors or UGT1A10 inhibitors such as phenytoin, regorafenib, eltrombopag. 12. Current or history of meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 criteria for Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorder (unless substance-induced or due to a medical condition), or Bipolar I Disorder 13. Have a first degree relative with schizophrenia, psychotic disorder (unless substance induced or due to a medical condition), or bipolar I disorder.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
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