Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Psilocybin-assisted Treatment for AUD (NCT06349083) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 2
Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Psilocybin-assisted Treatment for AUD
United States200 participantsStarted 2026-09-01
Plain-language summary
This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 mechanistic clinical trial designed to evaluate the therapeutic neural mechanisms of psilocybin in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), and to determine whether further studies are warranted to study the relationship of any such effects to clinical improvement in AUD symptoms. The primary aims are to evaluate the effects of psilocybin on AUD; measures will include 1) fMRI neural activation and functional connectivity, using a well-validated task to characterize neural and subjective response to negative affective and alcohol visual stimuli; 2) alcohol use data (self-report and blood biomarkers); and 3) self-report measures related the NE, IS, and EF domains.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 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.
Inclusion criteria
. Are able to provide voluntary informed consent
. Have a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) ≤ 0.01% at screening, as determined by a breath alcohol reading from a calibrated breath alcohol sensor. (Note: this criterion may be re-evaluated within the 30-day screening period.
. Are able to read, speak, and understand English, as documented during the informed consent process.
. Are 18 to 65 years old, inclusive, at Screening visit.
. Have DSM-5 diagnosis of moderate or severe AUD (using MINI)
. Eligible participants must either (a) not currently receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), or (b) have been in continuous treatment for AUD for at least 3 months and plan to continue. (Any medications used to treat AUD would need to be discontinued no less than 5 half lives or 14 days (whichever is greater) prior to the IP administration session. Patients who who are completing detoxification from alcohol and do not have plans for follow-up treatment would be eligible to participate in the study after completion of the detoxification program).
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
1
Percent change in the alcohol cue-induced Blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal in the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC)
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
2
Percent change in the alcohol cue-induced BOLD signal change in the caudate
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
3
Percent change in alcohol cue-induced BOLD signal change in the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC)
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
4
Percent change in alcohol cue-induced BOLD signal change in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
5
Percent change in alcohol cue-induced BOLD signal change in the insula
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
6
Percent change in negative affective cue-induced BOLD signal change in the dorsomedial PFC (dmPFC)
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
7
Percent change in negative affective cue-induced BOLD signal change in the supramarginal gyrus
. Are able and willing to adhere to all study requirements, including attending all study visits and therapy sessions, and completing all assessments.
. Have least 4 heavy drinking days (4 or more drinks per day for a woman, 5 or more drinks per day for a man) in the 30 days prior to admission to the screening visit.
Exclusion criteria
. Pregnancy or lactation
. Any medical condition that would preclude safe participation in the study, including the following, as determined by medical history review, physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), and clinical laboratory tests:
. Seizure disorder
. Significantly impaired liver function, defined as 1) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \> 5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); 2) ALT or AST \> 3 × ULN with concomitant total bilirubin \> 2.0 × ULN; or 3) ALT or AST ≥ 3 × ULN with the appearance of fatigue, nausea, vomiting, right upper quadrant pain or tenderness, fever, rash, and/or eosinophilia.
. Cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease, angina, history of arrhythmia (unless a successful ablation has been performed), heart failure, history of heart valve replacement, and history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack.
. Uncontrolled hypertension with systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 90 mmHg. (Note: participants who otherwise meet all eligibility criteria during the screening visit will have 3 opportunities to produce 1 blood pressure reading ≤ 140/90 mmHg (each reading will be collected at least 15 minutes apart). If blood pressure at Screening is consistently elevated (\> 140/90 mmHg across all 3 attempts), participants may be referred to their medical provider for management of hypertension. Participants may continue study participation if they are able to provide documentation of adequate control (BP \> 140/90 mmHg) prior to the IP administration session.)
. Resting heart rate \> 100 bpm (Note: participants will have an opportunity to return once within the 30 day screening window to make 3 additional attempts at a resting heart rate ≤ 100 bpm.).
. Serious ECG abnormalities present on the ECG obtained at the screening visit (e.g., evidence of ischemia, myocardial infarction, QT interval corrected for heart rate \[QTc\] prolongation (QTc \> 0.450 seconds), arrhythmia, or conduction abnormalities that increase the risk of arrhythmia.
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
8
Percent change in negative affective cue-induced BOLD signal change in the amygdala
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
9
Percent change in negative affective cue-induced BOLD signal change in the insula
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
10
Percent change in alcohol cue-induced functional connectivity in prespecified regions of interest (ROI)
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2
11
Percent change in negative affective cue-induced functional connectivity in prespecified regions of interest (ROI)
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4
12
Percent change in the frequency of failed response inhibition
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4
13
Change in discounting rate (log(k))
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4
14
Change in participant-level reference points
Timeframe: IP Administration (Day 0), Week 24
15
Percentage of no heavy drinking days
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 24
16
Change in phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth) blood levels
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 12
17
Change in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) blood levels
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 12
18
Change in the Drinker Inventory of Consequences questionnaire (DrInC-2R) total score
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 24
19
Change in PSQI global score
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 24
20
Change in patient's self-assessed health-related quality of life (by the SF-36 Questionnaire)
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 24
21
Change in Alcohol craving score
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 24
22
Change in negative affect score
Timeframe: Baseline, Week 24
23
Change in impulsivity score (Barratt impulsivity scale by the subscales and by the total score)