This research is being done to study the psychological effects of psilocybin in cancer patients. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring substance found in some mushrooms that some cultures have used for centuries in religious practices.
Topic Anxiety
Compound Placebo
Psilocybin
Country United States of America
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Trial Details
Trial Number
Sponsors & Collaborators
Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University (Medicine) is host to the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which is one of the leading research institutes into psychedelics. The center is led by Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson.
Heffter Research Institute
The Heffter Research Institute has been advancing psychedelics (psilocybin) as medicines since 1993.
Papers
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy improves psychiatric symptoms across multiple dimensions in patients with cancerThis pooled analysis of two Phase II RCTs (n=79) evaluates psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP/PAT) for cancer-related distress. PAT significantly improves anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion, and somatization without inducing lasting phobia, paranoia, or psychosis.
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial
This study (n=51) investigated the effects of a high dose of psilocybin (22 or 30mg/70kg) on depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer. It found significant improvements in clinician- and self-administered measures of depression and anxiety, even without psychotherapy (as many other studies provide). At 6-month follow-up, these changes were sustained, with about 80% of participants continuing to show clinically significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety.
Measures Used
Hamilton Depression Rating ScaleThe Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is a multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluating recovery. The scale consists of 17 items which each item being scoring on a 3 or 5 point scale. The higher the score, the more likely a person is depressed.
Hamilton Anxiety Scale
The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) was one of the first rating scales developed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms and is still widely used today in both clinical and research settings.