Psilocybin for Loneliness and Grief

AB
YF
Overseen ByYalda Farahmand
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Phase 1
Sponsor: Yale University

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, expectancy-controlled, mechanistic trial. This study looks to explore whether a single dose of psilocybin (25mg) reduces amygdala reactivity to negative socioemotional stimuli during the Facial Emotion Recognition Task (FERT) compared to a placebo in adults who feel lonely or those with unresolved grief symptoms.

Who Is on the Research Team?

AB

Anahita Bassir Nia, MD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults who feel lonely or are struggling with unresolved grief. Participants should be generally healthy and not have conditions that would make psilocybin unsafe, such as certain mental health disorders or medical issues.

Inclusion Criteria

Medically healthy
Ability to provide consent
High loneliness defined by the UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale
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Exclusion Criteria

Any unstable medical condition, psychiatric disorder, or circumstance that could compromise participant safety, interfere with study participation, or hinder the participant's ability to comply with study procedures and requirements
Positive pregnancy test or women who are breastfeeding
Any contraindication to MRI such as a pacemaker or metal implants

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Psilocybin

Trial Overview

The study tests whether a single dose of psilocybin (25mg) can help people feel more socially connected by reducing negative emotional responses in the brain, compared to a placebo. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either psilocybin or placebo without knowing which one they get.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: PsilocybinActive Control1 Intervention
Group II: PlaceboPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,963
Recruited
3,046,000+