Effect of Psilocybin Only and Psilocybin Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Management of Major Depressive Disorder and Associated Metabolic, Immune, Inflammatory, Neuroplasticity and Electrical Activity Markers

Summary

This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The study aims to compare the effects of psilocybin-only therapy, CBT, and psilocybin-assisted CBT on depression symptoms, neurochemical markers, inflammatory markers, and neuroplasticity in individuals with MDD. Participants will continue their routine depression medications and will be assessed for changes in depression scores, biochemical markers, and brain activity patterns using validated tools and tests.

Timeline

Start

2024-12-01

Primary completion

2025-06-01

Completion

2025-07-30

Publications

• Background Lee YJ, Lee GW, Seo WS, Koo BH, Kim HG, Cheon EJ. Neurofeedback Treatment on Depressive Symptoms and Functional Recovery in Treatment-Resistant Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: an Open-Label Pilot Study. J Korean Med Sci. 2019 Nov 4;34(42):e287. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e287.
• Background MacCallum CA, Lo LA, Pistawka CA, Deol JK. Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 1;13:1040217. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1040217. eCollection 2022.
• Background Dodd S, Norman TR, Eyre HA, Stahl SM, Phillips A, Carvalho AF, Berk M. Psilocybin in neuropsychiatry: a review of its pharmacology, safety, and efficacy. CNS Spectr. 2023 Aug;28(4):416-426. doi: 10.1017/S1092852922000888. Epub 2022 Jul 11.
• Background Mertens LJ, Wall MB, Roseman L, Demetriou L, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. Therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin: Changes in amygdala and prefrontal functional connectivity during emotional processing after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. J Psychopharmacol. 2020 Feb;34(2):167-180. doi: 10.1177/0269881119895520. Epub 2020 Jan 16.
• Background Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, Arden PC, Baker A, Bennett JC, Bird C, Blom RE, Brennan C, Brusch D, Burke L, Campbell-Coker K, Carhart-Harris R, Cattell J, Daniel A, DeBattista C, Dunlop BW, Eisen K, Feifel D, Forbes M, Haumann HM, Hellerstein DJ, Hoppe AI, Husain MI, Jelen LA, Kamphuis J, Kawasaki J, Kelly JR, Key RE, Kishon R, Knatz Peck S, Knight G, Koolen MHB, Lean M, Licht RW, Maples-Keller JL, Mars J, Marwood L, McElhiney MC, Miller TL, Mirow A, Mistry S, Mletzko-Crowe T, Modlin LN, Nielsen RE, Nielson EM, Offerhaus SR, O'Keane V, Palenicek T, Printz D, Rademaker MC, van Reemst A, Reinholdt F, Repantis D, Rucker J, Rudow S, Ruffell S, Rush AJ, Schoevers RA, Seynaeve M, Shao S, Soares JC, Somers M, Stansfield SC, Sterling D, Strockis A, Tsai J, Visser L, Wahba M, Williams S, Young AH, Ywema P, Zisook S, Malievskaia E. Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. N Engl J Med. 2022 Nov 3;387(18):1637-1648. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206443.

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Indications