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CompletedPhase 2Results posted

A Study of Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

NCT03866174 · Usona Institute

Closed to entry
Status
Not accepting participants
Phase 2
Phase
347
Target enrolment
11
Study sites
10 US states

What it is testing

Summary

One hundred participants, ages 21 to 65, who meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) will be stratified by study site and randomized with a 1-to-1 allocation under double-blind conditions to receive a single 25 mg oral dose of psilocybin or a single 100 mg oral dose of niacin. Niacin will serve as an active placebo. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential efficacy of a single 25 mg oral dose of psilocybin for MDD compared to the active placebo in otherwise medically-healthy participants, assessed as the difference between groups in changes in depressive symptoms from Baseline to Day 43 post-dose.

Summary as written by the trial’s own sponsor and published on ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. It is the sponsor’s description, reproduced unedited, not an assessment by this site.

What counts as success

Primary outcome measures

  • Change in Central Rater Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score From Baseline to Post-dose Day 43

    Measured over Baseline; Day 43 post-dose

A trial succeeds or fails on its primary outcome, declared in advance. Everything else it reports is secondary by definition.

Who can take part

Eligibility, as published

21 Years to 65 Years
Ages
All
Sex
Not accepted
Healthy volunteers
Inclusion Criteria: * 21 to 65 years old * Able to swallow capsules * If of childbearing potential, agree to practice an effective means of birth control throughout the duration of the study * Have an identified support person and agree to be accompanied home by that person following dosing * Have sustained moderate-severe depression symptoms at Screening and Baseline * Meet DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and are currently experiencing a major depressive episode of at least a 60-day duration at the time of screening Exclusion Criteria: * Women who are pregnant or who intend to become pregnant during the study or who are currently nursing * Have any of the following cardiovascular conditions: uncontrolled hypertension, coronary artery disease, congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac ischemia, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, artificial heart valve, a clinically significant screening ECG abnormality, or any other significant cardiovascular condition * Have a history of stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) * Have moderate to severe hepatic impairment * Have epilepsy * Have insulin-dependent diabetes * Have a positive urine drug test * Nicotine dependence that would disallow an individual to be nicotine free for the 7-10 hours during the dosing period * Meet DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, or Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder * Meet DSM-5 criteria for antisocial personality disorder * Meet DSM-5 criteria for a moderate or severe alcohol or drug use disorder

Where

11 study sites

FacilityCityRegionCountry
University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUnited States
Pacific Neuroscience InstituteSanta MonicaCaliforniaUnited States
Yale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUnited States
Segal TrialsLauderhillFloridaUnited States
Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUnited States
Great Lakes Clinical TrialsChicagoIllinoisUnited States
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUnited States
Hassman Research InstituteBerlinNew JerseyUnited States
New York University School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
Cedar Clinical ResearchDraperUtahUnited States
University of Wisconsin - MadisonMadisonWisconsinUnited States

On the registry

Contact the trial directly

This site does not enrol anyone and is not involved in this trial. To ask about taking part, use the sponsor’s own contact details on the official registry record, which is also where the most current version of everything above lives.

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NCT03866174 on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Last updated in the registry 2026-04-22. Registry records change; this page reflects the data build of 2026-08-25.

Related

Where this trial sits