RecruitingPhase 2

Mindfulness-Assisted Psychedelic Therapy

United States40 participantsStarted 2025-07-30

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test psilocybin in combination with mindfulness training in healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is "Does mindfulness training enhance the effects of psychedelic therapy (psilocybin) on mental health?" Interested individuals will complete an initial eligibility session and eligible participants will then be randomized into one of two groups: one dose of psilocybin (administered under the supervision of study therapists) combined with 8 weeks of weekly mindfulness training classes (Arm 1) or psilocybin alone (Arm 2). Both groups will complete baseline and post-treatment assessment sessions where they will complete questionnaires, computerized cognitive tests, and have an EEG (a measure of electrical activity in the brain) and functional MRI of brain if possible. Both groups will also complete 2 follow-up surveys (at \~8 weeks, and 1 year after the post-treatment assessment) either online through REDCap or by phone or video call with a research assistant.

Who can participate

Age range

25 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Eligible participants will be: * Adults of any race, ethnicity, or gender who are age 25 years or older * Have not had formal mindfulness training * Have not previously used classic psychedelics * Agree to consume approximately the same amount of caffeine-containing beverage (e.g., coffee, tea) that he/she consumes on a usual morning, before arriving at the research unit on the morning of the drug session day. If the participant does not routinely consume caffeinated beverages, he/she must agree not to do so on the session day. * Agree to refrain from using any psychoactive drugs, including alcoholic beverages and nicotine, within 24 hours of each drug administration. The exception is caffeine. * Agree not to take any PRN medications on the mornings of drug sessions * Agree not to take sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil, or similar medications within 72 hours of psilocybin administration. * Agree that for one week before the drug session, he/she will refrain from taking any nonprescription medication, nutritional supplement, or herbal supplement except when approved by the study investigators. Exceptions will be evaluated by the study investigators and will include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and common doses of vitamins and minerals. Participants will be excluded if they present with any of the following: * Prior exposure to formal mindfulness or meditation training * Previous use of psilocybin or other psychedelic drugs (LSD, mescaline, DMT/ayahuas…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Retention at 8-week follow-up

Timeframe: 8-week follow-up

Change in stress symptoms

Timeframe: 8-week follow-up

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06233344

SponsorUniversity of Southern California

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-08

Contact for this trial

Anna Zandueta-Duarte, BA

(323) 442-0938 mindfulness-psilocybin-study@usc.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Mental Health trials