Psilocybin in Chronic Low Back Pain and Depression

NCT ID: NCT06355414

Last Updated: 2025-10-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-04-22

Study Completion Date

2026-08-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study seeks to provide insight on psilocybin's effects on mechanisms of chronic pain among patients with co-morbid chronic low back pain and depression (CLBP+D).

Participants will receive either a single high-dose of psilocybin (25mg absolute dose) or methylphenidate (40mg absolute dose). Participants will be asked to complete assessments of pain, depressive symptoms, and more general questionnaires regarding the participants experiences during the experimental sessions and the associated enduring effects.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

This study will investigate the effects of a single experimental psilocybin (25 mg fixed dose) administration compared to a dose of methylphenidate (40 mg fixed dose). Assessments will be conducted during screening visits, before and after the drug session, at follow up visits up to 1-month after the drug session, as well as periodically throughout study participation via a multi-time-per-day survey application. Forty participants will complete all study visits including follow-up visits.

Primary objectives:

1. Investigate the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of psilocybin for CLBP+D
2. Investigate the effect of psilocybin on self-report of positive affect, negative affect, and pain catastrophizing
3. Investigate the effect of psilocybin on a behavioral task called positive affective pain inhibition

Secondary objectives:

1. Investigate the durability (1-month follow-up) effects of psilocybin on self-report of positive affect, negative affect, and pain catastrophizing
2. Investigate the effect of psilocybin on dynamic associations between affective measures, pain, and function on a moment-to-moment basis.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Chronic Low-back Pain Depression

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized, double-blind, active control study comparing the effects of psilocybin (25mg fixed dose) and methylphenidate (40mg fixed dose)
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
This is a double-blind trial, and efforts will be made to mask the study drug (psilocybin) and the active control (methylphenidate) from participants, guides, and study staff. Participants will be debriefed about their randomly assigned drug condition after the completion of the final follow-up assessment, or after discontinuation/withdrawal, whichever comes first.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Psilocybin

This arm will receive a single, absolute dose (25 mg) of psilocybin.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Psilocybin

Intervention Type DRUG

Drug administration under supportive conditions

Methylphenidate

This arm will receive a single, absolute dose (40 mg) of methylphenidate.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Methylphenidate

Intervention Type DRUG

Drug administration under supportive conditions

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Psilocybin

Drug administration under supportive conditions

Intervention Type DRUG

Methylphenidate

Drug administration under supportive conditions

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* 21 to 80 years old
* Have given written informed consent
* Report low back pain as ongoing problem ≥ 3 months and any low back pain on at least half of the days over the past 6 months (consistent with NIH Consensus Recommendations for defining CLBP; other chronic pain problems can be present, but CLBP must be reported as primary)
* Report at least moderate depression symptoms Grid-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID-HAMD) ≥ 17
* Fluent in English
* At least high school level of education
* Agree to abstain from any psychoactive drugs on the day prior to and the day of the drug administration session
* Women who are of childbearing potential and sexually active who are not practicing an effective means of birth control must agree to practice an effective means of birth control throughout the duration of the study
* Be judged by study team clinicians to be at low risk for suicidality
* Concurrent psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norephinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and/or bupropion (\< 300 mg bupropion) is allowed if the type and frequency of the therapy has been stable for at least two months prior to screening and is expected to remain stable during participation in the study.
* Concurrent psychotherapy is allowed if the type and frequency of the therapy has been stable for at least two months prior to screening and is expected to remain stable during participation in the study
* Be otherwise medically stable as determined by screening for medical problems via a personal interview, a medical questionnaire, a physical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and routine medical blood and urinalysis laboratory tests; CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), urine beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), urine toxicology screen.
* Agree to consume approximately the same amount of caffeine-containing beverage (e.g., coffee, tea) that he/she consumes on a usual morning, before arriving at the research unit on the mornings of drug session days. If the participant does not routinely consume caffeinated beverages, he/she must agree not to do so on session days.
* Agree not to take any as needed (PRN) medications on the mornings of drug sessions
* Agree not to take sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil, or similar medications within 72 hours of each drug administration
* Agree that for one week before each drug session, he/she will refrain from taking any nonprescription medication, nutritional supplement, or herbal supplement except when approved by the study investigators. Exceptions will be evaluated by the study investigators and will include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and common doses of vitamins and minerals.
* Have limited lifetime use of hallucinogens (the following criteria are preferred: no use in the past 5 years; total hallucinogen use less than 10 times)

Exclusion Criteria

* Lifetime history of serious psychiatric (other than depression) or neurological disorders, including bipolar disorder, psychosis, or seizure disorder
* History (past 2 years) of severe substance use disorder or current (past six months) substance use disorder of moderate severity
* Clinically significant suicidal ideation (e.g. with strong intent or means) within past 6 months or history (past 5 years) of suicide attempt
* Medical condition incompatible with psilocybin administration (e.g., cardiovascular)
* On unstable/changing dose of opioid, benzodiazepine or other psychoactive or pain medication within 4 weeks prior to enrollment and/or unable to abstain from medication on drug administration day
* Current use/positive toxicology for illicit drugs or positive breath alcohol test at screening and prior to each drug administration session.
* Clinically significant transaminitis- aspertate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than two times normal value).
* Women who are pregnant (as indicated by a positive urine pregnancy test assessed at intake and before each drug session) or nursing;
* Women who are of childbearing potential and sexually active who are not practicing an effective means of birth control.
* Cardiovascular conditions: coronary artery disease, stroke, angina, uncontrolled hypertension, a clinically significant ECG abnormality (e.g., atrial fibrillation), prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) interval (i.e., QTc \> 450 msec), heart valve, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the past year.
* History of seizures and/or epilepsy with history of seizures.
* Type 1 diabetes.
* BMI \< 18
* Medical conditions contraindicated for methylphenidate administration:

1. Concomitant use of Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or use within 14 days of MAOI discontinuation
2. Family history or diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome
3. Known Fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, or sucrase-isomaltose insufficiency
4. Glaucoma
5. Known hypersensitivity to methylphenidate
6. Marked agitation, anxiety, and tension
7. Motor tics
* Currently taking on a regular (e.g., daily) basis any antidepressant medications other than SSRIs, SNRIs, or bupropion, or any other medications that have a primary centrally-acting serotonergic effect, including MAOIs. Bupropion dosage must be \< 300 mg in order to be included. For individuals who have intermittent or PRN use of such medications and/or who taper off such medications after regular use, psilocybin sessions will not be conducted until at least 14 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is greater) of the agent have elapsed after the last dose.
* Nicotine dependence that would be incompatible with an individual to be nicotine free for 8-10 hours on a psilocybin session day
* Have a first degree relative with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders (except substance/medication-induced or due to another medical condition), or bipolar I disorder
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Johns Hopkins University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

David B Yaden, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Johns Hopkins University

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Arozo Azimi, BA

Role: CONTACT

410-550-1140

Kelcy A Klein, BS

Role: CONTACT

410-550-1140

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

David Yaden, PhD

Role: primary

410-550-5250 ext. 0-5250

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Mak HW, Schneider S. Individual differences in momentary pain-affect coupling and their associations with mental health in patients with chronic pain. J Psychosom Res. 2020 Nov;138:110227. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110227. Epub 2020 Aug 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32919151 (View on PubMed)

Roy M, Peretz I, Rainville P. Emotional valence contributes to music-induced analgesia. Pain. 2008 Jan;134(1-2):140-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2007.04.003. Epub 2007 May 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17532141 (View on PubMed)

Sullivan MJ, Bishop SR, & Pivik J (1995). The pain catastrophizing scale: development and validation. Psychol Assess, 7(4): 524.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Vanderlind WM, Everaert J, Joormann J. Positive emotion in daily life: Emotion regulation and depression. Emotion. 2022 Oct;22(7):1614-1624. doi: 10.1037/emo0000944. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33661667 (View on PubMed)

Yaden, D. B., Kaufman, S. B., Hyde, E., Chirico, A., Gaggioli, A., Zhang, J. W., & Keltner, D. (2019). The development of the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S): A multifactorial measure for a complex emotion. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(4): 474-488.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Kroenke K, Wu J, Bair MJ, Krebs EE, Damush TM, Tu W. Reciprocal relationship between pain and depression: a 12-month longitudinal analysis in primary care. J Pain. 2011 Sep;12(9):964-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2011.03.003. Epub 2011 Jun 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21680251 (View on PubMed)

Krebs EE, Lorenz KA, Bair MJ, Damush TM, Wu J, Sutherland JM, Asch SM, Kroenke K. Development and initial validation of the PEG, a three-item scale assessing pain intensity and interference. J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Jun;24(6):733-8. doi: 10.1007/s11606-009-0981-1. Epub 2009 May 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19418100 (View on PubMed)

Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, Umbricht A, Richards WA, Richards BD, Cosimano MP, Klinedinst MA. Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1181-1197. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675513.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27909165 (View on PubMed)

Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R. Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83; discussion 284-92. doi: 10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5. Epub 2006 Jul 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16826400 (View on PubMed)

Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Dysregulation: Development, Factor Structure, and Initial Validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology & Behavioral Assessment, 26(1): 41

Reference Type BACKGROUND

George SZ, Calley D, Valencia C, Beneciuk JM. Clinical Investigation of Pain-related Fear and Pain Catastrophizing for Patients With Low Back Pain. Clin J Pain. 2011 Feb;27(2):108-15. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e3181f21414.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20842009 (View on PubMed)

Freynhagen R, Baron R, Gockel U, Tolle TR. painDETECT: a new screening questionnaire to identify neuropathic components in patients with back pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006 Oct;22(10):1911-20. doi: 10.1185/030079906X132488.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17022849 (View on PubMed)

Flink IL, Boersma K, Linton SJ. Pain catastrophizing as repetitive negative thinking: a development of the conceptualization. Cogn Behav Ther. 2013;42(3):215-23. doi: 10.1080/16506073.2013.769621.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23978106 (View on PubMed)

Finan PH, Garland EL. The role of positive affect in pain and its treatment. Clin J Pain. 2015 Feb;31(2):177-87. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000092.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24751543 (View on PubMed)

Fairbank JC, Pynsent PB. The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Nov 15;25(22):2940-52; discussion 2952. doi: 10.1097/00007632-200011150-00017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11074683 (View on PubMed)

Dittrich A. The standardized psychometric assessment of altered states of consciousness (ASCs) in humans. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1998 Jul;31 Suppl 2:80-4. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-979351.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9754838 (View on PubMed)

Davis AK, Barrett FS, So S, Gukasyan N, Swift TC, Griffiths RR. Development of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire among a sample of people who have consumed psilocybin or LSD. J Psychopharmacol. 2021 Apr;35(4):437-446. doi: 10.1177/0269881120967878. Epub 2021 Jan 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33427007 (View on PubMed)

Barrett FS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin. J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Nov;29(11):1182-90. doi: 10.1177/0269881115609019. Epub 2015 Oct 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26442957 (View on PubMed)

Barrett FS, Bradstreet MP, Leoutsakos JS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms. J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1279-1295. doi: 10.1177/0269881116678781. Epub 2016 Nov 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27856683 (View on PubMed)

McCracken LM, Yang SY. The role of values in a contextual cognitive-behavioral approach to chronic pain. Pain. 2006 Jul;123(1-2):137-45. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2006.02.021. Epub 2006 Mar 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16564627 (View on PubMed)

Hays RD, Spritzer KL, Schalet BD, Cella D. PROMIS(R)-29 v2.0 profile physical and mental health summary scores. Qual Life Res. 2018 Jul;27(7):1885-1891. doi: 10.1007/s11136-018-1842-3. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29569016 (View on PubMed)

Clifton JDW, Yaden DB. Brief measures of the four highest-order primal world beliefs. Psychol Assess. 2021 Dec;33(12):1267-1273. doi: 10.1037/pas0001055. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34197163 (View on PubMed)

Baer RA, Smith GT, Hopkins J, Krietemeyer J, Toney L. Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment. 2006 Mar;13(1):27-45. doi: 10.1177/1073191105283504.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16443717 (View on PubMed)

Nakonezny PA, Carmody TJ, Morris DW, Kurian BT, Trivedi MH. Psychometric evaluation of the Snaith-Hamilton pleasure scale in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Nov;25(6):328-33. doi: 10.1097/YIC.0b013e32833eb5ee.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20805756 (View on PubMed)

Shiota, M. N., Keltner, D., & John, O. P. (2006). Positive emotion dispositions differentially associated with Big Five personality and attachment style. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(2), 61-71. DOI: 10.1080/17439760500510833

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Von Korff M, DeBar LL, Krebs EE, Kerns RD, Deyo RA, Keefe FJ. Graded chronic pain scale revised: mild, bothersome, and high-impact chronic pain. Pain. 2020 Mar;161(3):651-661. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001758.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31764390 (View on PubMed)

Wicksell RK, Lekander M, Sorjonen K, Olsson GL. The Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale (PIPS)--statistical properties and model fit of an instrument to assess change processes in pain related disability. Eur J Pain. 2010 Aug;14(7):771.e1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2009.11.015. Epub 2010 Jan 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20106685 (View on PubMed)

Yarnitsky D, Bouhassira D, Drewes AM, Fillingim RB, Granot M, Hansson P, Landau R, Marchand S, Matre D, Nilsen KB, Stubhaug A, Treede RD, Wilder-Smith OH. Recommendations on practice of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) testing. Eur J Pain. 2015 Jul;19(6):805-6. doi: 10.1002/ejp.605. Epub 2014 Oct 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25330039 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

R33AT012317

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

IRB00385932

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Psilocybin to Treat Depression in Spinal Cord Injury
NCT07251491 NOT_YET_RECRUITING PHASE1/PHASE2
Psilocybin and Depression
NCT03380442 UNKNOWN PHASE2
Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
NCT06230757 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING PHASE2
Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder
NCT05675800 WITHDRAWN PHASE2
Effect of Antidepressants on Back Pain
NCT00018200 COMPLETED PHASE2