Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05506982

Psilocybin Combined With Multidisciplinary Palliative Care in Demoralized Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain

This phase I trial evaluates the side effects of psilocybin and how well it works under supportive care conditions in cancer survivors living with demoralization and chronic pain. Cancer patients often experience demoralization, which is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, loss of meaning, and existential distress. Psilocybin psychotherapy, together with multidisciplinary palliative and supportive care, may help treat the anxiety, depression, and chronic pain felt by cancer survivors - defined here as cancer patients from time of diagnosis through the end-of-life.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm Hematologic Diseases Hematologic Neoplasms Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Malignant Solid Neoplasm Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site

Age range

26 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Brain Health Center at Executive Park, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Loading trial locations.

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of a single administration of 25 mg psilocybin (psilocybin) provided under supportive conditions with multidisciplinary palliative care support (P-PC) in adult cancer survivors living with concurrent demoralization and chronic pain.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate for changes in demoralization, anxiety, depression, quality of life, pain, other symptoms, mysticism, awe, post-traumatic growth, social isolation, and psychosocial functioning from baseline to end-of-treatment to 3.5-month follow up.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive psilocybin orally (PO) and undergo observation for up to 8 hours on day 14.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up on days 15, 21, 42, 56, and 98.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Signed informed consent form (ICF)
  • Diagnosis of solid or liquid cancer made >= 1 year at any stage in cancer survivorship (specifically, active cancer treatment or no cancer-directed therapy either in clinical remission or with advanced disease)
  • Prognosis of greater than six months as determined by their primary oncologist
  • Moderate-to-severe demoralization (score of >= 10 on the Demoralization Scale-II [DS-II])
  • Chronic pain (pain lasting > 3 months) per patient report and score of >= 5 for average pain level on Brief Pain Inventory
  • Age >= 26 years old and ≤85 years old
  • Availability of a friend or family member into whose care the participant can be released following the drug administration session

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Women of childbearing potential (i.e., not permanently sterilized, not postmenopausal) who decline to use a highly effective dual contraceptive method for the duration of the study. Dual contraceptive method use is defined by a use a barrier contraceptive in addition to another method to prevent pregnancy, including sterilization, hormonal methods, intrauterine devices, and hormonal pills.
  • Age < 26 years old and > 85 years old
  • Poor functional status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] score of >= 2)
  • Major cognitive impairment as determined by principal investigator
  • Non-fluency in the English language
  • Personal history of a psychotic disorder or Bipolar disorder type I/II
  • Active suicidal ideation with intent in the last 3 months (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale suicidal ideation score > 3) or any suicide attempt in the past year
  • Current substance use disorder (i.e., present in last six months), of greater than mild severity as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
  • History of a seizure disorder in adulthood
  • Active central nervous system (CNS) metastases or symptomatic CNS infection
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (mean blood pressure (mmHg) exceeding 139 systolic and 89 diastolic) and heart rate exceeding 90 beats per minute
  • Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, or QTc>450ms)
  • Supplemental oxygen requirement
  • Body mass index =< 18
  • Renal insufficiency as evidenced by creatinine clearance (CrCl) < 30 mL/min
  • Concomitant use of drugs known to interact with psilocybin (probenecid, diclofenac)
  • Consistent use of serotonergic drugs including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), or efavirenz, as well as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Subjects using any other antidepressant, stimulant, or antipsychotic medications on Day 0 (baseline visit) may be allowed to enroll in the study if they elect to taper off the medications under medical supervision by the PI and the study psycho-oncologist (PO) by the day prior to the baseline visit
  • Considered by the principal investigator to be inappropriate for the study due to safety concerns or to be unlikely to complete the protocol

Treatment and study plan

Psilocybin

Drug

Given PO

Other names: CY-39, Indocybin

Psychotherapy

Behavioral

supportive care

Other names: talk therapy

Quality-of-Life Assessment

Other

Ancillary studies

Other names: Quality of Life Assessment

Questionnaire Administration

Other

Ancillary studies

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence Of Treatment-Related Medical Grade 3 Or Higher Or Psychiatric Grade 4 Or Higher

    Time frame: Up to 42 days

    Adverse events are graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Descriptive statistics will summarize the incidence and duration of adverse events, with the primary outcome of interest being the incidence of medical Grade 3 or higher or psychiatric Grade 4 or higher Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events considered by the PI to be treatment-related occurring by day 42. These events will be evaluated by adverse events, vital signs, ECG, and laboratory findings. A successful outcome is no medical or psychiatric Grade 4 adverse events or higher.

  2. Evaluation of Feasibility Outcome To Assess Patient Retention in The Study

    Time frame: Up to 42 days

    Feasibility will be assessed by patient retention in the study, number of missed events, a survey assessing acceptability of the protocol at study endpoint, and fidelity to the intervention elements. A successful outcome is retention of 80% of subjects enrolled in the study, 80% of events attended by subjects, and 60% of subjects find intervention satisfactory.

Other outcomes

  1. Evaluate for Changes in Demoralization at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Evaluate demoralization using the Demoralization Scale from baseline to end-of-treatment to 3.5-month follow up. Moderate-to-severe demoralization (score of ≥ 10 on the Demoralization Scale-II).

  2. Evaluate for Changes in Demoralization at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Evaluate demoralization using the Demoralization Scale from baseline to end-of-treatment to 3.5-month follow up. Moderate-to-severe demoralization (score of ≥ 10 on the Demoralization Scale-II).

  3. Impact of Pain Intensity and Interference with Daily Functioning at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    The impact of pain intensity and interference with daily functioning will be assessed using Brief Pain Inventory. Chronic pain (pain lasting > 3 months per patient report) and score of ≥ 5 for average pain level on Brief Pain Inventor.

  4. Impact of Pain Intensity and Interference with Daily Functioning at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    The impact of pain intensity and interference with daily functioning will be assessed using Brief Pain Inventory. Chronic pain (pain lasting > 3 months per patient report) and score of ≥ 5 for average pain level on Brief Pain Inventor.

  5. Global Symptom Burden at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Global symptom burden will be evaluated using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale.The scale ranges from 0 representing no symptom to 10 representing maximum symptom.

  6. Global Symptom Burden at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Global symptom burden will be evaluated using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale.The scale ranges from 0 representing no symptom to 10 representing maximum symptom.

  7. Anxiety and Depression at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Anxiety and Depression is evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

    The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is a 14-item self-report scale and reliable instrument for detecting states of depression and anxiety in outpatient settings, where 0-7 = Normal, 8-10 = Borderline abnormal (borderline case) and 11-21 = Abnormal (case).

  8. Anxiety and Depression at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Anxiety and Depression is evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

    The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is a 14-item self-report scale and reliable instrument for detecting states of depression and anxiety in outpatient settings, where 0-7 = Normal, 8-10 = Borderline abnormal (borderline case) and 11-21 = Abnormal (case).

  9. Quality of Life Assessment at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Evaluated quality of life changes from baseline to end-of-treatment to 3.5-month follow up using the Harvard Flourishing Measure. Life Satisfaction (Items 1-2) ranges from 0 = Not Satisfied at All, 10 = Completely Satisfied, Mental and Physical Health (3-4) ranges from 0 = Poor, 10 = Excellent, Meaning and Purpose (5-6) ranges from 0 = Not at All Worthwhile, 10 = Completely Worthwhile and 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree, Character and Virtue (7-8) ranges from 0 = Not True of Me, 10 = Completely True of Me, and Close Social Relationships (9-10) ranges from 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree. A sixth domain, Financial and Material Stability (11-12) may be necessary to sustain the other domains over time ranges from 0 = Worry All of the Time, 10 = Do Not Ever Worry.

    .

  10. Quality of Life Assessment at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Evaluated quality of life changes from baseline to end-of-treatment to 3.5-month follow up using the Harvard Flourishing Measure. Life Satisfaction (Items 1-2) ranges from 0 = Not Satisfied at All, 10 = Completely Satisfied, Mental and Physical Health (3-4) ranges from 0 = Poor, 10 = Excellent, Meaning and Purpose (5-6) ranges from 0 = Not at All Worthwhile, 10 = Completely Worthwhile and 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree, Character and Virtue (7-8) ranges from 0 = Not True of Me, 10 = Completely True of Me, and Close Social Relationships (9-10) ranges from 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree. A sixth domain, Financial and Material Stability (11-12) may be necessary to sustain the other domains over time ranges from 0 = Worry All of the Time, 10 = Do Not Ever Worry.

  11. Caregiver strain at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    The Measured by the Modified Caregiver Strain Index is a 13-item tool measuring strain related to care provision with at least one item for each of the following major domains: financial, physical, psychological, social, and personal. The instrument is used to assess individuals of any age who assume the role of care giving.The index ranges from: Yes, On a Regular Basis=2, Yes, Sometimes =1, and No=0.

  12. Caregiver strain at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    The Measured by the Modified Caregiver Strain Index is a 13-item tool measuring strain related to care provision with at least one item for each of the following major domains: financial, physical, psychological, social, and personal. The instrument is used to assess individuals of any age who assume the role of care giving.The index ranges from: Yes, On a Regular Basis=2, Yes, Sometimes =1, and No=0.

  13. Impact of pain intensity and interference with catastrophizing through rumination, helplessness, and pessimism at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Evaluated using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Where 0=Not at all, 1=To a slight degree, 2=To a moderate degree, 3=To a great degree, 4= All the time.

  14. Impact of pain intensity and interference with catastrophizing through rumination, helplessness, and pessimism at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Evaluated using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Where 0=Not at all, 1=To a slight degree, 2=To a moderate degree, 3=To a great degree, 4= All the time.

  15. Religious and spiritual assessment at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Evaluated using Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree and 4 = strongly agree.

  16. Religious and spiritual assessment at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Evaluated using Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree and 4 = strongly agree.

  17. Social connectedness at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Evaluated using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised. The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised is a validated 8-item self-report measure assessing the degree to which subjects feel socially connected as a psychological sense of belonging. Where 1= Strongly Disagree, 2= Disagree, 3=Mildly Disagree, 4= Mildly Agree, 5= Agree, 6= Strongly Agree

  18. Social connectedness at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Evaluated using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised. The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised is a validated 8-item self-report measure assessing the degree to which subjects feel socially connected as a psychological sense of belonging. Where 1= Strongly Disagree, 2= Disagree, 3=Mildly Disagree, 4= Mildly Agree, 5= Agree, 6= Strongly Agree

  19. Self-reported opioid use in the form of oral morphine equivalents over past week at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Opioid use in the form of oral morphine equivalents.

  20. Self-reported opioid use in the form of oral morphine equivalents over past week at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Opioid use in the form of oral morphine equivalents.

  21. Self-reported polypharmacy over past week at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    The number of total medications used to manage physical and emotional symptoms

  22. Self-reported polypharmacy over past week

    Time frame: At 98 days

    The number of total medications used to manage physical and emotional symptoms

  23. Global psychosocial functioning (participant and caregiver) at Forty-Two Days

    Time frame: At 42 days

    Evaluated using using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale. It is a 5-item measure of general social impairment, and specifically their ability to function in terms of work, tasks at home, social leisure, private leisure, and personal or family relationships. Score: 0-9= low impairment, 10-19= moderate impairment, 20-40 severe impairment.

  24. Global psychosocial functioning (participant and caregiver) at Ninety-Eight Days

    Time frame: At 98 days

    Evaluated using using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale. It is a 5-item measure of general social impairment, and specifically their ability to function in terms of work, tasks at home, social leisure, private leisure, and personal or family relationships. Score: 0-9= low impairment, 10-19= moderate impairment, 20-40 severe impairment.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Emory University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

The Safety, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Psilocybin Combined With Multidisciplinary Palliative Care in Demoralized Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain (P-PC)

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 18, 2022
Registry last updated
Jul 23, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.