Magic mushroom therapy targets depression and alcoholism in new trial
NCT ID NCT07405606
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) combined with therapy is safe and helpful for people who have both major depression and alcohol use disorder. Thirty adults will receive either psilocybin or a placebo, along with therapy sessions. The main goals are to see if the treatment is feasible and safe, and to measure changes in depression and drinking behaviors.
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 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Mar 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jun 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 65 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: * Be between the ages of 18-65 * Must be deemed to have capacity to provide informed consent; * Ability to read and communicate in English, such that their literacy and comprehension is sufficient for understanding the consent form and study questionnaires, as evaluated by study staff obtaining consent; * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures; * Be deemed in health compatible with the study procedures according to study physician; * Ability to take oral medication and be willing to adhere to the PAT regimen; * Individuals who are capable of becoming pregnant: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation; * Fulfil Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition) (DSM-5) criteria for a primary diagnosis of current single or recurrent episodes of MDD of at least moderate severity but without psychotic features and a comorbid AUD diagnosis (moderate or severe) using the SCID-5; * A score of at least 14 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD); * Participants should not be interested in initiating standard pharmacotherapies for MDD or AUD. The need to start/resume standard pharmacotherapies will be reassessed at Week 6. * Individuals who are willing to and tapered off current antidepressant or IMAOs, antipsychotic and anti-alcohol/anti-craving medications for a minimum of 2-weeks (or more depending on the medication) prior to Baseline (V2) and for the duration of the study and whose physician confirms that it is safe for them to do so; * Individuals who are willing to and have tapered off current inhibitors of 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A9 and 1A10, aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors (ALDHs) and alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors (ADHs) for a minimum of 2-weeks (or more depending on the medication) prior to Baseline (V2) and for the duration of the study and whose physician confirms that it is safe for them to do so; * Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations (section 4.5) throughout study duration. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant as assessed by a urine pregnancy test at Screening (V1) and Baseline (V2) or individual's that intend to become pregnant during the study or are breastfeeding; * Presence of a relative or absolute contraindication to psilocybin, including a drug allergy, recent stroke history, uncontrolled hypertension (over 160/100 mmHG), low or labile blood pressure, recent myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmic, severe coronary artery disease, or moderate to severe renal or hepatic impairment. * Diagnosis of cirrhosis, AST or ALT elevations \> 3x upper limit of normal; significant abnormal liver function that would preclude administration of psilocybin based on the judgement of the QI (assessed notably by bilirubin, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, and INR functions) * Any DSM-5 lifetime diagnosis of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychotic disorder (unless substance induced or due to a medical condition), bipolar I or II disorder, paranoid personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, or neurocognitive disorder as determined by medical history and the SCID-5 clinical interview; * Any first-degree relative with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder; psychotic disorder (unless substance-induced or due to a medical condition); or bipolar I or II disorder as determined by the family medical history form and discussions with the participant; * Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised (CIWA-Ar) score \> 9, or any other indication that the participant may experience medically complicated withdrawal from alcohol, such as a score of ≥4 in the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale. * Use benzodiazepines (with the exception of use of up to 2mg of lorazepam equivalent per day for insomnia and anxiety if it is not taken within 12 hours before the psilocybin dose (Week 2). * Have a DSM-5 diagnosis of substance use disorder (excluding alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and caffeine) within the preceding 6 months; * Presence of baseline prolonged QTc (more than 0.45 seconds for males and 0.47 seconds for females) or Torsade de Pointes as measured by the ECG or a history of long QTc syndrome or related risk factors; * Use of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) inhibitors and UDG modulators; * Use of hallucinogens in the past 5 years; or total hallucinogen use ≥10 times) * Current suicidality risk as indicated during the conduct of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) with concurrence after a study physician's evaluation if the response to C-SSRS questions 1 or 2 is "yes") * Any other clinically significant physical illness including chronic infectious diseases or any other major concurrent illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the interpretation of the study results or constitute a health risk for the participant if they take part in the study. * Participants that are responding to anti-alcohol or anti-craving medications
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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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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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