Organic whole psilocybin mushrooms for adults with PTSD

An Open-Label, Phase 1 Study of the Safety Pharmacokinetic Profile, and Preliminary Efficacy, of Organic Whole Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms in Patients Suffering From PTSD

This will test whether eating dried psilocybin mushrooms in chocolate is safe and can reduce symptoms in adults with PTSD lasting six months or more.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Scottsdale Research Institute (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Scottsdale, Arizona)
• Trial ID: NCT07275970 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 1 interventional study will enroll up to 24 adults with DSM-5–diagnosed PTSD of at least six months' duration who meet a PCL-5 score threshold. Participants will self-administer psilocybin derived from dried organic mushrooms formulated into chocolate and will be monitored on-site for safety and tolerability. The study will collect preliminary measures of PTSD symptoms and quality of life alongside careful adverse event monitoring. All dosing and follow-up visits occur at the Scottsdale Research Institute under psychiatric oversight.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18 or older with a confirmed DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis lasting six months or more, a PCL-5 score of at least 33, and willingness to follow study procedures and self-administer the study drug.

Not a fit: Patients who do not meet diagnostic or severity criteria, cannot attend in-person visits in Scottsdale, or have contraindications to psychedelics may not receive benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new treatment option that reduces PTSD symptoms for some patients.

How similar studies have performed: Related trials of psilocybin and other psychedelics have shown promising signals for mood and anxiety disorders, but use of whole psilocybin-containing mushrooms specifically for PTSD remains largely untested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals ≥ 18 years of age
2. Have a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as defined:

   * Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5th edition (DSM-5) criteria for current PTSD with a duration of 6 months or longer as assessed by a study psychiatrist.
   * Determination of at least one traumatic event as determined by the LEC-5
   * A score of at least 33 on the PCL-5
3. Willing and able to provide signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.

   •Willingly agreed to provide verbal consent to provide needed pre-screening information, including medical history, concomitant medications, etc., prior to signing the ICF.
4. Be willing to commit to self-administering the study drug, to completing the QoL and PRO instruments, and attending all study visits.
5. Participants must be able to evaluate their average pain on the BPI (Brief Pain Inventory) over the past week.
6. Acceptable renal functioning as determined by no significant prior medical history and results of clinical laboratory evaluations done at Screening and on Day 1 (e.g., eGFR \>45 (mL/min/1.73 m2))
7. Acceptable hepatic functioning as determined by no significant prior medical history and results of clinical laboratory evaluations done at Screening and on Day 1 (e.g., liver enzymes ≤1.5x the upper limit of normal, 'ULN')
8. Agree to only use the psilocybin mushroom provided by site staff and not use any other psilocybin (or similar drug) in any form for at least 30 days prior to Study Day 1 and for 30 days following the single-dose study drug treatment.
9. Is willing to wear, sync daily, and charge twice weekly a provisioned health tracking wearable device every day during sleep and daily activity. If the participant already has the same, or compatible device, they can use their own.
10. Agree to not use any psychoactive drugs, partake alcoholic beverages, self-administer ondansetron (or other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors 'SSRIs', serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, 'SNRIs' and monoamine oxidase inhibits, 'MAOs'), cannabis, and/or any other non-routine PRN medications within 24 hours of Study Day 1. Exceptions include daily use of caffeine, nicotine, and opioid pain medication
11. Be stable on any pre-study medications and/or psychotherapy regimen prior to study entry. Agree to inform physician(s)/clinician(s) providing current care about your participation in the study (or permit the research site study staff to do so). Agree to report any changes in medication or psychotherapy treatment regimen during the study, to study staff.
12. If female and of childbearing potential, the participant is eligible for the trial only with a negative urine pregnancy test during Screening and on Study Day 1. \[If a result is uncertain (e.g., potential false positive), a serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hHCG) test may be performed prior to the administration of the study drug.\] Fertile females agree to use a highly effective form of birth control during the 30-day posttreatment period and must confirm that they have no intent to try to become pregnant or any need to breastfeed during this period.

    • Adequate birth control methods include intrauterine device (IUD), injected or implanted hormonal methods, oral hormones plus a barrier contraception, or double barrier contraception. Two forms of contraception are required with any barrier method or oral hormones (i.e., condom and diaphragm, condom or diaphragm and spermicide, oral hormonal contraceptives and spermicide or condom). Not of childbearing potential is defined as permanent sterilization or postmenopausal females.
13. Be proficient in reading and writing in English and able to effectively communicate with site staff.
14. Agree not to participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Currently uncontrolled hypertension. (\>140/90 at Screening and \>145/95 on Study Day 1).
2. History of recent seizure (within 3 months of Study Day 1).
3. History of stroke or transient ischemic attacks.
4. Preexisting history of valvulopathy or pulmonary hypertension.
5. A marked prolongation of QT interval (i.e., QT ≥450 msec) over a series of 3 ECGs performed within 5-6 minutes.

Currently uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c \> 8.0%). 7. Potential for adverse drug-drug interactions such as the use of centrally-acting serotonergic agents within 24 hours prior to and for 72 hours following study drug administration on Study Day 1.

8\. Significant suicide risk defined by (1) suicidal ideation as endorsed on items 4 or 5 on the Columbia Suicidal Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) within the last 6 months, at Screening, or at Baseline (Visit 1), or; (2) suicidal behaviors within the last 12 months as assessed by C-SSRS.

9\. Patients with severe anxiety and depression measured as following: Participants with scores of 15 \& above on Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and/or with scores of 20 \& above on Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ -9).

10\. Are pregnant or nursing or are women of childbearing potential who are not practicing a highly effective means of birth control.

11\. Have any allergies or contraindication to psilocybin mushrooms. 12. Current users of psilocybin, LSD, DMT, Ayahuasca, Peyote, mescaline, and ketamine over the past 30 days will not qualify for the study unless the use of these agents is stopped for 30 days prior to Study Day 1 and the participant agrees to not use these (or similar) agents for 30 days after Study Day 1.

13\. Are not able to attend face-to-face visits at the study site or plan to move out of the area prior to the 3-month LTFU visit.

14\. Have any current problem that, in the opinion of the Investigator or Medical Monitor, might interfere with an individual's participation in the study or confound the assessment of safety and/or efficacy of the study drug.

Where this trial is running

Scottsdale, Arizona

• Scottsdale Research Institute — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (Recruiting)

Conditions PTSD; ptsd; psilocybin; psychedelic; psilocin; post-traumatic stress disorder; mushrooms