About this trial
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn whether it is feasible to individually tailor psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) for people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) based on their personal preferences. The study also aims to explore whether two different psychotherapy styles, music-centered and mindfulness-centered, influence how people respond to psilocybin treatment.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Is it feasible to conduct a patient-preference randomized trial of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy? * Does receiving a preferred psychotherapy style improve treatment experiences or outcomes? * How do music-centered and mindfulness-centered PAP approaches compare in their effects on improving mood and well-being?
Researchers will compare music-centered PAP to mindfulness-centered PAP to see if aligning psychotherapy with individual preferences is a practical and potentially beneficial approach for improving treatment efficacy and tolerability.
Participants will:
* Be adults with treatment-resistant depression * Receive two 25 mg psilocybin (PEX010, Filament Health) sessions, spaced four weeks apart * Experience one session with music-centered psychotherapy and one with mindfulness-centered psychotherapy * Before treatment, rate their preference for the two psychotherapy approaches * Be randomly assigned to receive their preferred or non-preferred approach first, followed by the other * Complete preparation and integration sessions before and after each psilocybin session
This feasibility trial will also collect information on participants' cultural and personal factors influencing psychotherapy preferences using a modified Cultural Formulation Interview, and explore physiological measures of therapeutic alliance, an important factor in psychotherapy outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
At least 21 years of age at screening.
Diagnosis of unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) according to diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), confirmed by a study psychiatrist using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) version 7.0.2.
Failure to achieve remission from at least two trials of evidence-based oral antidepressants, in the current episode, of adequate dose and duration.
Moderate to severe symptoms according to the clinician-administered Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS): total score ≥ 25 on screening.
Disqualifiers
Deemed to be greater than low risk of suicide on psychiatric interview.
Currently or previously diagnosed with any of the following, according to available information and psychiatric interview: major depression with psychotic features, schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders, and/or bipolar affective disorder I or related disorders.
Current or past diagnosis of personality disorder deemed to pose a significant risk for safety and/or trial compliance.
Family history (first-degree relative) of psychosis.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Psilocybin 25mg
- Music-centered psilocybin-assisted therapy
- Mindfulness-centered psilocybin-assisted therapy
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Kyle Greenway
Lead sponsor
Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital
Sponsor institution