Psychedelic therapy gets personal: music or mindfulness for depression?
NCT ID NCT07373535
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests whether tailoring psilocybin-assisted therapy to a person's preferences (music or mindfulness) is practical and helpful for treatment-resistant depression. Sixteen adults will receive two doses of psilocybin, each paired with a different therapy style, to see if matching the approach to their preference improves mood and well-being. The goal is to learn how to make this promising treatment more effective and personalized.
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 16 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- 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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21 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: * At least 21 years of age at screening. * Diagnosis of unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) according to diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), confirmed by a study psychiatrist using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) version 7.0.2. * Failure to achieve remission from at least two trials of evidence-based oral antidepressants, in the current episode, of adequate dose and duration. * Moderate to severe symptoms according to the clinician-administered Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS): total score ≥ 25 on screening. * Active follow-up in psychiatry. * Able and willing to give informed consent to participate in the study, and for the study clinicians to communicate with their psychiatrist throughout the intervention phase of the study. * Available and willing to comply with all study assessments. * Stable psychotropic medications for at least eight weeks at the time of enrollment. * Able to read and understand French and/or English. * Has at least one identified support person, including a friend or family member, who agrees to accompany patient home (or to an otherwise safe destination) following the psilocybin treatment sessions. Exclusion Criteria: * Deemed to be greater than low risk of suicide on psychiatric interview. * Currently or previously diagnosed with any of the following, according to available information and psychiatric interview: major depression with psychotic features, schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders, and/or bipolar affective disorder I or related disorders. * Current or past diagnosis of personality disorder deemed to pose a significant risk for safety and/or trial compliance. * Family history (first-degree relative) of psychosis. * Current or recent (\< six months) substance use disorder, except for tobacco use disorder. * Deemed to be greater than low risk of future substance use disorder. * Currently receiving and deemed to be unsuitable, on psychiatric interview, to discontinue medications with significant serotonin 2A antagonism (e.g., trazodone) or known potential for serious interactions with psilocybin including serotonin syndrome (e.g., monoamine oxidase inhibitors), seizures (e.g., lithium), or which may affect psilocybin pharmacokinetics (e.g. UDG modulators, aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors). * Unwilling or unable to maintain current psychotropic medications throughout the treatment phase of the trial. * Currently undergoing psychotherapy that will not remain stable for the duration of the study or was initiated within 21 days of baseline. * Prior use of serotonergic psychedelics in the past year and/or more than five life-time uses. * Use of any serotonergic psychedelic or ketamine, or any other illicit substance during the active treatment period of the trial. * Medical contraindications: * Current or past history of seizure disorder with the exception of infantile febrile seizures. * Significant cardiovascular disease including uncontrolled blood pressure (\> 140/90mmHg), clinically significant arrhythmia, heart failure, coronary artery disease, history of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, or history of myocardial infarction. * Abnormal and clinically significant results on the physical examination, laboratory investigations, or ECG at screening. * Any other clinically significant illness deemed to pose significant health risks for participation in the study. * Pregnant or lactating. * For women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant: unwilling to utilize highly effective contraceptive during the 10-week active intervention (e.g., oral contraceptive). Acceptable forms of highly effective contraception methods include: a. Total abstinence (when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception; b. Male/female sterilization defined as: 1) Female sterilization (have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy) or tubal ligation at least six weeks before taking study treatment. In case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed and documented by follow up hormone level assessment; 2) Male sterilization of the sole partner (at least 6 months prior to screening) of a female patient on the study. c. A combination of any two of the following (i+ii or i+iii or ii+iii): i) Barrier methods of contraception: condom or occlusive cap (diaphragm or cervical/vault caps) with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/ vaginal suppository ii) Use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal methods of contraception or other forms of hormonal contraception that have comparable efficacy (failure rate \<1%), for example hormone vaginal ring or transdermal hormone contraception iii) Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS). * Men unwilling to not attempt to father a child or not donate sperm, while participating the active treatment period of this study.
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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
2 sites. 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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Jewish General Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada
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Jewish General Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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