Can a daily microdose of psilocybin calm chronic anxiety?
NCT ID NCT06969170
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial investigates whether a low-dose psilocybin oral solution can safely ease symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Adults aged 18-60 with a GAD diagnosis and moderate-to-severe anxiety will first receive open-label psilocybin for four weeks, then those who respond will be randomly assigned to continue psilocybin or switch to a placebo for another four weeks. Researchers will track side effects, anxiety scores, and brain activity to see if this approach holds promise as a daily 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 oral solution
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new daily, low-dose treatment option for generalized anxiety disorder.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with only 50 participants, so results may not hold up in larger studies. Psilocybin can cause side effects, and the placebo comparison is limited to a short double-blind phase.
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
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 50 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
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 to 60 years
- 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. Must provide written informed consent prior to the initiation of any protocol-specific procedures. 2. Male and female adults, between 18 and 60 years of age, inclusive. 3. Meets DSM-V criteria for a primary diagnosis of GAD at Screening (duration of diagnosis ≥1 year, based on self-report), confirmed using the MINI. 4. Clinician-rated GAD-7 score ≥14 at Screening (Visit 1). 5. Clinician-rated HAM-A score ≥14 at Screening (Visit1). 6. Females must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and must fulfil at least one of the following: * Be surgically sterile for a minimum of 6 months (achieved through hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy; note that tubal ligation is not considered a method of permanent sterilization). * Post-menopausal for a minimum of 1 year (confirmed by follicle-stimulating hormone test). * Agree to avoid pregnancy and use a medically acceptable method of contraception with male sexual partners from at least 30 days prior to the study until 30 days after the study has ended (last study procedure). * Medically acceptable methods of contraception include any of the following: * Double-barrier methods (e.g., male condom, spermicide with diaphragm or spermicide with cervical cap) * Oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; or hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device. The male partner should use, at all times, a male condom with spermicide, should the female Patient choose to use any of these methods * Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the Patient's preferred and usual lifestyle. 7. Males who are able to father children must agree to use medically acceptable methods of contraception during the study and for 30 days after the last study drug administration. If a patient's partner should become pregnant during his participation in the study and for 30 days after he has completed his last study drug administration, the patient must inform study staff immediately. Medically acceptable methods of contraception include: * Using a condom with a female partner of child-bearing potential who is using oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device; or diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide * Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the patient's preferred and usual lifestyle. 8. Males must refrain from sperm donation from clinic admission to at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug. 9. Must be able to speak, read, and understand English sufficiently to allow completion of all study assessments. 10. Must be willing to comply with the requirements and restrictions of the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Personal history of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, delusional disorder, paranoid disorder, moderate or severe panic disorder, moderate or severe social anxiety disorder, schizoaffective disorder, moderate or severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, moderate or severe post-traumatic stress disorder (as assessed by the IES-R), moderate or severe personality disorder (Cluster B and Cluster C only), moderate or severe MDD (as assessed by the MINI and total scores on the MADRS \> 19). 2. History or presence of any clinically significant cardiac, endocrine, hematologic, hepatic, immunologic, metabolic, urologic, pulmonary, neurologic, dermatologic, renal, or other disease at Screening, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the patient or the validity of the study results. 3. Recently initiated non-pharmacological treatment (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychotherapy) with a psychologist or health care professional (i.e., \<4 weeks prior to Screening). Patients who began a stable non-pharmacological treatment regimen \>4 weeks prior to Screening will be permitted. Patients currently stable on treatment will not be permitted to modify or introduce new elements to their existing treatment regimen while enrolled in the study. 4. Currently taking pharmacological treatment for GAD or depressive symptoms on a daily basis as outlined in Table 2. Patients who discontinue pharmacological treatment within a minimum of 4 weeks or more of baseline will be permitted to enroll in the study. Sporadic, prn use of anxiolytics will be permitted; however, patients will be required to document all medication use prior to study enrollment (See Section 9.7). 5. Clinically significant abnormality on ECG, including a QT interval corrected for heart rate (Bazett; QTcB interval) of \>440 milliseconds in males and \>460 milliseconds in females. 6. History of allergies to the investigational product or excipients. 7. History of seizures, family history of seizures, history of head trauma, history of neurosurgery, or close family history of idiopathic generalized epilepsy or other congenital epilepsies. 8. Positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody. 9. Positive urine drug screen at Screening , inclusive of cannabis use at a rate above 0.5g/day or 3g/week; \- Abstinence commitment clause: Patients who use cannabis at below or up to the frequency/amount listed above may be allowed to participate if they are willing and able to discontinue use for the duration of the study period without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. 10. Current or history of moderate or severe drug or alcohol use disorder (excluding caffeine and nicotine) within the past 2 years, or lifetime history of participation in a drug rehabilitation program (other than treatment for smoking cessation). 11. Has used CNS drugs with perception-altering properties (e.g., ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide \[LSD\], phencyclidine \[PCP\], 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine \[MDMA\], mescaline, psilocybin, tryptamine derivatives, or ring-substituted amphetamines with perception-altering effects) on more than 1 occasion for therapeutic or non-therapeutic purposes (i.e., for psychoactive effects) within the past 6 months. History of single or episodic use will not be considered exclusionary. 12. History of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months or active/current suicidality, based on C-SSRS results. 13. Is currently using an investigational drug or device or has used such in the 30 days prior to receiving study drug. 14. Female patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. 15. Patient, in the investigator's opinion, is unsuitable for clinical study participation. Criteria for Randomization into the Double-Blind Treatment Phase 1\. Minimum 50% reduction in GAD-7 score from Open-Label Baseline Visit (Visit 1) to Double-Blind Baseline Visit
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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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Kingston General Health Research Institute
RECRUITINGKingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7, Canada
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