Psilocybin therapy for treating phantom limb pain

Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms Supporting Psilocybin-assisted Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain

This study is testing if psilocybin can help people with phantom limb pain feel less pain and improve their mood.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of California, San Diego (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (San Diego, California)
• Trial ID: NCT05224336 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot study investigates the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in reducing chronic phantom limb pain in a double-blind, placebo-controlled format. Participants will receive either psilocybin or a placebo in a supportive environment, with close follow-up to monitor pain symptoms and related behavioral and neural responses. The study aims to determine if psilocybin can be safely administered and if it leads to significant reductions in pain scores. The research will also explore various secondary measures related to mood and attitudes towards pain.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 75 who have experienced phantom limb pain for at least one month following an amputation.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have phantom limb pain or those who are currently taking serotonergic antidepressants may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a novel therapeutic option for individuals suffering from chronic phantom limb pain.

How similar studies have performed: While psilocybin is being explored in various therapeutic contexts, this specific application for phantom limb pain is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Between 18 and 75 years of age
* Amputation of one extremity
* Experience phantom limb pain of at least one month's duration and intensity of at least 3 out of 10 on the VAS
* Able to fluently communicate in English
* Agree to sign the consent and HIPPA authorization
* Willing to refrain from taking serotonergic antidepressant medication during the study period
* Willing to refrain from using any non-prescribed psychoactive drugs, including alcohol, within 24 hours before and after study drug administration
* Agree not to use any nonprescription medications, herbal medications, or supplements during the week prior to each drug session unless an exception is approved by the study investigators
* Willing to refrain from smoking or use of nicotine during the period from 8:00 am on the morning of the drug sessions until they are discharged to go home at the end of the end of the session
* Able to remain in an MRI machine without sedation
* Women of childbearing potential must agree to practice an effective means of birth control throughout the study, from screening to the final visit
* Have a relative or friend who can provide/accompany transportation after the drug session
* If pain is currently being treated with analgesic medications, the analgesic regimen must be stable for at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment, and the participant must agree not to change their use of analgesic medication without first consulting with the study investigators \[permissible analgesic medications are as follows: aspirin, acetaminophen, celecoxib, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, flubiprofen, gabapentin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, nalbumetone, naproxen, pregabalin, proxicam, sulindac, tolmetin, and valdecoxib. PRN use of OTC analgesic medications by participants is also permissible\]
* Participants who are taking other medications acting as serotonin antagonists (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, odansetron), dopamine antagonists (e.g., metoclopramide, promethazine, prochlorperazine), dopamine agonists (e.g., levodopa, pramipexole, apomorphine), psychostimulants (e.g., modafinil, armodafinil, solriamfetol, methylphenidate, dexmethylphenidate, atomoxetine, dextroamphetamine, mixed amphetamine salts, lisdexamphetamine), anticholinergics (e.g., benzotropine, trihexyphenidyl, scopolamine, hypscyamine), or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists (e.g., amantadine, memantine, ketamine) must be willing to discontinue those medications 1 week prior to each drug session

Exclusion Criteria:

* Under the age of 18 or over the age of 75
* Pregnant or nursing females
* Females of childbearing age who are sexually active but not using birth control
* Phantom limb pain intensity \<3 out of 10 on the VAS
* Presence of another type of chronic pain that cannot be differentiated from phantom limb pain by the participant
* Amputation of more than one extremity
* MRI related contraindications including pacemakers, metal implants, spinal cord stimulators etc.
* Meet DSM-V criteria for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder
* Have a first-degree relative (parent or full-sibling) with a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder
* Judged to present a suicide risk
* Not able to complete an MRI scan
* Active substance use disorder (excluding tobacco and caffeine)
* Subjects prescribed methadone or buprenorphine for any indication
* Require concomitant treatment with efavirenz
* Participants who are prescribed antidepressants or antipsychotics for an axis I diagnosis
* Participants who are taking a serotonergic dietary supplement (e.g., 5-hydroxytryptophan, St. John's wort, SAM-e)
* Participants with any neurological conditions resulting in altered perception or cognition (e.g., dementia, traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment) \[with the exception of phantom limb syndrome and its sequelae (depression or anxiety)\]
* Participants with a positive urine drug screen for amphetamines, barbiturates, buprenorphine, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, methadone, opiates (morphine, oxycodone), or phencyclidine (PCP)
* Have used psilocybin, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, or another serotonergic hallucinogen (e.g., LSD, mescaline, ayahuasca) for recreational purposes within the last 12 months
* Require concomitant treatment with anti-psychotic medications (aripiprazole, asenapine, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, chlorpromazine, clozapine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, iloperidone, loxapine, mesoridazine, molindone, olanzapine, paliperidone, perphenazine, pimavanserin, pimozide, prochlorpromazine, quetiapine, risperidone, thioridazine, thiothixene, trifluperazine, or ziprasidone)
* Require concomitant treatment with an antidepressant medication or other medications that act as MAO inhibitors or serotonin reuptake inhibitors (amitriptyline, amoxapine, bupropion, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, imipramine, isocarboxazid, levomilnacipram, maprotiline, milnacipram, mirtazapine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, paroxetine, phenelzine, protriptyline, selegiline, sertraline, tramadol, tranylcypromine, trazodone, trimipramine, venlafaxine, vilazodone, vortioxetine) \[trazodone ≤50mg/24hr for insomnia is allowed, but not within 48hr of the psilocybin session\]
* Require concomitant treatment with medications known to inhibit UGT1A9 and UGT1A10 (e.g., diclofenac, probenecid, valproic acid)
* Severe hearing or visual impairment
* History of seizure disorder or epilepsy
* History of migraine or other severe recurring headaches necessitating treatment by a neurologist or headache specialist
* History of adverse reactions or intolerance to niacin or the rescue medications used in the study (benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, labetalol, nitroglycerin)
* Presence of uncontrolled cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \> 140 mmHg or DBP \> 90 mmHg)
* Require concomitant treatment with an antihypertensive medication
* QTc prolongation (QTc \> 0.045 for man, QTc \> 0.047 for women)
* Subjects with history of stroke, angina, clinically significant ECG abnormality (e.g. atrial fibrillation), or artificial heart valve
* Participants with severe renal impairment (GFR \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2)
* Participants with any clinically significant lab abnormalities as determined by a physician on the study team
* Myocardial infarction within the last 12 months
* Participants who meet criteria for Child-Pugh class B or higher
* Participants who are prescribed opioid medications
* Participants taking other medications that may be associated with serotonin syndrome: carbamazepine, dextromethorphan, lithium, linezolid, buspirone
* Evidence of severely compromised hepatic function

Where this trial is running

San Diego, California

• University of California, San Diego — San Diego, California, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Dwayne Mosbey, BA

Conditions Phantom Limb Pain; Psilocybin; Psychedelic Therapy; fMRI; Pain; Chronic Pain; Psychedelics; Hallucinogens