Psilocybe Cubensis Mushrooms With or Without Fluoxetine for Refractory Depression
This Phase 2a pilot, exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial will estimate whether concurrent fluoxetine alters the antidepressant effect, acute psychedelic experience, or safety of a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy session in adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD). Eligible participants (ages 25-64) have DSM-5-TR MDD, moderate-severe, MADRS ≥20, and partial response in the current episode (≥1 adequate antidepressant trial of 6-12 weeks with \<50%…
Conditions studied
Depressive Disorder
About this study
This Phase 2a pilot, exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial will estimate whether concurrent fluoxetine alters the antidepressant effect, acute psychedelic experience, or safety of a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy session in adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD). Eligible participants (ages 25-64) have DSM-5-TR MDD, moderate-severe, MADRS ≥20, and partial response in the current episode (≥1 adequate antidepressant trial of 6-12 weeks with \<50% symptom reduction). All participants receive one dosing session with 3g of standardized Psilocybe mushrooms - with batch assay (e.g., LC-MS) to determine the amount of psilocybin and psilocin present in the sample - with manualized preparation and integration. Participants are randomized 1:1 to fluoxetine 20 mg/day or matching placebo for 4 weeks, started 2 weeks before the psychedelic session and continued 2 weeks after. Masking is quadruple (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor). The primary outcome is change in MADRS from Baseline to Week 4, assessed by a remote, blinded rater. Key secondary outcomes include response (≥50% MADRS reduction) and remission (MADRS ≤10) at Week 4, and durability at Week 6. Exploratory outcomes assess the psychedelic experience (5D-ASC, SOCQ), psychological flexibility (AAQ-10), and safety/tolerability (UKU and adverse events). Findings will be interpreted as estimates with 95% confidence intervals to inform the design of a subsequent confirmatory trial.
Interventions
- Drug: Psilocybin and Psilocyn — Oral dose administered via Psilocybe mushrooms material batch-assayed by LC-MS to standardize psilocybin and psilocyn content.
- Drug: Placebo — Matching capsules, once daily for 4 weeks (-14 to +14 days).
- Behavioral: Psychotherapy-assisted session — Same manualized procedures as Arm 1.
- Drug: Fluoxetine — 20 mg/day for 4 weeks (-14 to +14 days relative to dosing day).
Primary outcomes
- Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (4 weeks)
Eligibility information
Study locations
- Federal University of Latin American Integration, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná 85870-650 Brazil
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.