--- title: Studying medication for Parkinsons depression nct_id: NCT07610369 phase: PHASE2 status: RECRUITING sponsor: Yale University study_type: INTERVENTIONAL canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07610369" clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07610369" last_fetched: "2026-07-20T14:01:59.138Z" source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)" --- # Studying medication for Parkinsons depression **Goal (in five words):** Studying medication for Parkinsons depression **Official Title:** The Efficacy of Psilocybin Therapy for Depression in Parkinson's Disease **Trial ID:** [NCT07610369](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07610369) ## Key Facts - **Phase:** PHASE2 - **Status:** RECRUITING - **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL - **Sponsor:** Yale University - **Target Enrollment:** 40 participants - **Start Date:** 2026-07 - **Completion Date:** 2030-07 - **Conditions:** Depression, Parkinson's Disease (PD) - **Interventions:** Psilocybin (drug), Psilocybin (drug) - **Intervention Types:** DRUG ## Summary For Families The study is testing whether psilocybin therapy can reduce depression in people who also have Parkinson's disease. In a randomized, controlled design, participants will have two medically supervised sessions taking oral psilocybin at doses ranging from a microdose to a high dose, with psychotherapy before and after each session, and researchers will track changes in depression as well as motor and non-motor symptoms, thinking, and quality of life for three months. They are enrolling people aged 40 to 80 with neurologist-diagnosed early to moderate Parkinson's (stage 1 to 3 when their Parkinson's medicines are working) who have at least moderate depression on the Beck Depression Inventory and who meet other safety and screening requirements. ## What This Actually Involves **Placebo** _(From the protocol)_: There is no placebo group. Everyone receives an active treatment; the study compares one treatment against another. **Visits** _(From the protocol)_: You will have two drug administration sessions, with follow-up continuing to 3 months after the second session. > "Participants will complete two drug administration sessions where they will each receive a dose of oral psilocybin ranging from low ("microdose") to high in a medically monitored setting with psychotherapeutic support. Participants will also complete a series of psychotherapy sessions before and after each drug administration session. Clinical assessments will be used to quantify changes in depression as well as other relevant outcomes (non-motor and motor symptoms of PD, cognitive performance, quality of life). Follow-up will continue to 3 months after the second session." **Procedures** _(Ask the coordinator)_: Ask the coordinator what tests and procedures are involved, for example blood draws, scans, or questionnaires, and whether any are uncomfortable or invasive. **Washout** _(Ask the coordinator)_: Ask the coordinator whether you would need to stop or pause any of your current medications before or during the study (a washout period), and for how long. **Travel & reimbursement** _(Ask the coordinator)_: Ask the coordinator whether travel, parking, or your time is reimbursed or compensated, and what is covered. _Fields marked “From the protocol” come from the trial's registry record or quoted protocol text. Fields marked “Ask the coordinator” are not reliably available and should be confirmed directly._ ## Eligibility - **Minimum age:** 40 Years - **Maximum age:** 80 Years - **Sex:** ALL ### Full Criteria ``` Inclusion Criteria: * Able to understand and provide informed consent * Comfortable speaking and writing in English * Have neurologist-diagnosed idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3 during an "on" phase (time when medication/DBS for parkinsonian motor feature, including bradykinesia and rigidity is in effect) * Have no changes in medication or major surgical procedures anticipated for treatment duration * Have a score \>/=20 on the Beck Depression Inventory-2 (BDI-2), consistent with moderate or greater depressive symptom severity, at Baseline. * For people who can become pregnant: agree to use highly effective contraception from entry into the trial through Day B30 assessments (4 weeks after the second psilocybin administration session) and agree to not breastfeed. Acceptable methods of contraception are: An intrauterine device (IUD), hormone-based contraceptives (birth control pills) , condoms (internal or external) must be used with another method (other than spermicide), and complete abstinence from sexual activity that could result in pregnancy. * Agree that for one week preceding each psilocybin session, they will refrain from taking any nonprescription medication, nutritional supplement, or herbal supplement except when approved by the research team. Exceptions will be evaluated by the research team and assessed for safety. Agree to abstain from all tobacco and nicotine use for the duration of the study. * Agree to consume approximately the same amount of caffeine-containing beverages that they usually consume before arriving at the research unit on the mornings of psilocybin administration sessions. * Agree to avoid sedative-hypnotic medications (e.g., benzodiazepines, zolpidem, zopiclone, zaleplon) taken on an as-needed basis for a minimum of 5 half-lives prior to each psilocybin administration session and for 24 hours after each psilocybin administration session. * Agree to avoid opioid medications taken on an as-needed basis for a minimum of 5 half-lives prior to each psilocybin administration session and for 24 hours after each psilocybin administration session. * Agree not to use products or substances containing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol for at least 7 days prior to each psilocybin administration session and for 24 hours after each psilocybin administration session. * Agree to not use non-prescribed narcotics (eg. heroine, fentanyl), depressants (eg. Barbiturates, benzodiazepines) and/or inhalants for the duration of participation in the trial. * Agree not to consume alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours prior to and 24 hours following each psilocybin administration session. * Have a primary care provider, neurologist, or psychiatrist who is actively managing or coordinating care and is available for consultation with the study medical monitor. Exclusion Criteria: * Any indication of forms of parkinsonism other than idiopathic Parkinson's disease. * Cognitive impairment, defined as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \<24. * Symptomatic orthostatic hypotension. * Currently receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or treatment via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Previous treatment with ECT and/or TMS is permitted; last treatment must be at least 30 days prior to entry into this trial. * Treatment in a clinical trial within 30 days of entry into this trial or treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within 30 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to entry into this trial. * Pregnancy as indicated by a positive urine pregnancy test during screening, lactation, or the intention of becoming pregnant within 3 months of entry into this trial. * Current severity of psychiatric symptoms warranting immediate treatment as determined by the study medical staff (e.g. due to inability to provide for basic needs/safety). The study medical staff will assess these individuals, determine the appropriate level of care, and coordinate with the individual's primary providers to ensure close follow-up. * High risk of self-harm/suicide, as determined by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) risk screen, specifically: participant answers "yes" to item 4 or 5 suggesting intent to act on suicidal thoughts OR participant has made a serious suicide attempt within the 12 months prior to entry into this trial. * History of meeting DSM-5 criteria for a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, other psychotic disorder, or a mood disorder with psychotic features. * History of delusional symptoms or any other psychotic symptoms accompanied by a loss of insight. Exceptions may be made at the investigators' discretion in cases of a history of psychotic symptoms that were attributable to substance or medication use. * Current delusional symptoms or any other psychotic symptoms accompanied by a loss of insight. * History of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder in a first-degree relative. * History of bipolar disorder 1 in a first-degree relative, in whom illness onset was prior to age 40. * Current or history of meeting DSM-5 criteria for a bipolar disorder. * Current or history within the last 2 years of meeting DSM-5 criteria for a moderate or severe alcohol or drug use disorder, excluding caffeine. * Currently meeting DSM-5 criteria for another psychiatric condition judged to be incompatible with establishment of rapport or safe exposure to psilocybin treatment procedures as determined by the investigators. * History of meeting DSM-5 criteria for Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). * History of using any psychedelic substances including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline (and natural products containing mescaline including peyote and San Pedro cactus), N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), natural products containing DMT including ayahuasca and 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), ibogaine, 2C compounds, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), or methylone during the past 6 months at dosages and/or frequencies determined clinically significant by the investigators. * Cancer with known central nervous system (CNS) involvement, CNS infection, or other major CNS disease aside from PD. * Epilepsy or other seizure disorder in adulthood. * Supplemental oxygen requirement. * Allergy or intolerance to any of the materials contained in the drug products. * Renal insufficiency defined as creatinine clearance \< 40 ml/min using Cockraft and Gault equation * Insufficiently managed endocrine conditions, including diabetes mellitus and clinically significant thyroid dysfunction. * Cardiovascular conditions, including: * Elevated blood pressure defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) \>150 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \>95 taken during Enrollment * Tachycardia defined as heart rate (HR) \>90 beats per minute taken during Enrollment * Bradycardia defined as HR \<50 bpm taken during Enrollment * Angina * History of stroke within the past year * Clinically significant ECG abnormality as determined by the investigators, including but not limited to QTc \> 450 * Hepatic dysfunction as indicated by any of the following laboratory values: * AST \> 3 x upper limit of normal * ALT \> 3 x upper limit of normal * Total bilirubin \> 3.0 mg/dl * Use of any of the following concomitant medications AND inability/unwillingness to discontinue for at least 5 times the elimination half-life of the agent (specific exceptions are noted) prior to psilocybin administration, including: * Agents that may be associated with serotonin syndrome: * MAO inhibitors (participants must have discontinued 2 weeks prior to baseline) * St. John's Wort * S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM-e) * 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) * Dextromethorphan * Opioids (e.g., codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, meperidine, tramadol) * Lithium * Linezolid * Buspirone * Agents that may interact with psilocybin metabolism/effects: * Serotonin antagonists (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, ondansetron) * Antipsychotics * Other dopamine antagonists (e.g., metoclopramide, promethazine, prochlorperazine) * Nicotine * Modulators of uridine diphosphate (UDP) or glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) (e.g. valproate, diclofenac, mefenamic acid, verapamil, ketoconazole, itraconazole, probenecid, phenobarbital, protease inhibitors) * L-methyl folate (\>/= 7.5mg/day) * Efavirenz * Agents that may increase the risk of psychotic symptoms: * Stimulants (e.g. modafinil, methylphenidate, atomoxetine, methamphetamine, cocaine, amphetamine derivatives) * Anticholinergics (e.g. benztropine, trihexyphenidyl, scopolamine, hyoscyamine) * Systemic steroids * Tricyclic antidepressants * Other medical condition or diagnosis, concomitant medication(s), physical exam finding, laboratory abnormality or health risk identified that precludes participation in study procedures due to safety or feasibility concerns at the discretion of the investigators. ``` ## Locations (1) - Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States _(41.3081, -72.9282)_ - Sophie Holmes, PhD, (CONTACT), 203-685-4066, sophie.holmes@yale.edu - Sophie Holmes, PhD, (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR) - Gerard Sanacora, MD, (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR) ## Central Contacts - Sophie Holmes, PhD, (CONTACT), 203-685-4066, sophie.holmes@yale.edu - Gerard Sanacora, MD, (CONTACT), gerard.sanacora@yale.edu ## Making Contact: How to Call This Study Site ### Who to ask for Ask for the study coordinator. Some sites call this person the research coordinator. They are the right person for questions about joining a study. If you reach a front desk or a doctor's office scheduler, ask them to connect you with the research team for this study. ### What to say It is fine to read this out loud, word for word: > Hello, my name is ____. I am calling about a Parkinson's study at your site. The study number is NCT07610369. It is the one about "Studying medication for Parkinsons depression". Could I speak with the study coordinator about taking part? If you are calling for a family member, use their name and mention that you help with their care. ### What they will ask you - The year of diagnosis - Current medications and their doses - Other health conditions - Any procedures already done, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) - How far you are able to travel for study visits - Whether a care partner can come to visits with you ### What to have ready - A written list of current medications and doses - Your neurologist's name and phone number - The diagnosis date. The year is enough. - A recent visit summary from the neurologist, if you have one ### What to ask them - How many visits are there, and how long does each visit take? The listing already answers this: You will have two drug administration sessions, with follow-up continuing to 3 months after the second session. Ask the coordinator to confirm it still applies. - Is travel, parking, or my time reimbursed? - Is there a placebo group, and what is my chance of being in it? The listing already answers this: There is no placebo group. Everyone receives an active treatment; the study compares one treatment against another. Ask the coordinator to confirm it still applies. - Would I need to stop or pause any of my current medications? - What happens when the study ends? Could I stay on the treatment if it helps? ### What to expect - Expect to wait a few days for a callback. A week is common. Calling or emailing again after that is fine and normal. - Many callers do not end up joining. Screening out is common and is not a judgment about you or your health. - Asking questions commits you to nothing. You can stop the process at any point. --- *Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07610369* *HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07610369* *Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07610369*