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NCT06650800Completed

Effect of Psilocybin on the Positive Valence System in Treatment-resistant Depression

Effect of Psilocybin on the Positive Valence System in Treatment-resistant Depression: a Pilot Clinical Neuroimaging Study

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 20 Aug 2025

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The study hypothesis is that the antidepressant effect of psilocybin is mediated by a normalization of the functioning of the positive valence system. Depressive states, especially moderate to severe depressions that associate a certain level of anhedonia, produce an overvaluation of the cost of efforts and an infra-evaluation of the possible rewards derived from an action. Psilocybin would reduce anhedonia and the cost of efforts, facilitating the anticipation of reward. Thus, the antidepressant effect of psilocybin would be mediated by a greater anticipation of rewards (reduction of anhedonia) and a more optimistic estimation of the results of efforts (increase in motivation). Psilocybin-induced changes in the positive valence system will be observable on brain MRI images, particularly in the effort evaluation circuits: basolateral amygdala, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, ventral pallidum, ventral striatum (VS), ventral tegmental area (VTA). The mesolimbic circuit (VS, VTA) is the anatomical substrate of anticipation of rewarding stimuli (food, sex, drugs). The amygdala also fulfills an associative function between environmental cues and rewarding stimuli. Structural and functional alterations in this circuit are associated with depressive symptoms such as anhedonia or distortions in the perception and memories of rewards. This hypothesis will be tested on a population of patients with moderate or severe depressive symptoms who meet the criteria for TRD.

Status (registry)
Completed
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
10 (actual)
First submitted
18 Oct 2024
Start date
19 Nov 2024
Primary completion date
26 Mar 2025
Lead sponsor
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes
Diseases
Depression
NCT number
NCT06650800

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Participants enrolled: 10
  • From 19 Nov 2024 to the primary completion date, 26 Mar 2025
  • 1 site in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • The patient is participating in a medical product-based interventional study, or is in a period of exclusion determined by a previous study
  • Patient with allergy, hypersensitivity or other adverse reaction to previous use of psilocybin or other hallucinogens.
  • Patient on medication or illicit substances likely to interfere with the effects of psychedelics (urine analysis and breathalyzer on D0).
  • Any other major clinically significant concomitant disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the interpretation of the study results or constitute a risk to the health of the participant, if he or she participates in the study
  • Patient on antidepressant treatment other than SSRIs or SNRIs. (Antidepressant treatments other than SSRIs or SNRIs are prohibited in the trial. Patients receiving antidepressant treatment of a different class (MAOIs, tricyclics, tetracyclics), alone or in combination, will not be included in the study).
  • Patient who has received in the last 6 months treatments such as: ECT, vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Other illness

  • Patient with a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified during life.
  • Patient with a family history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder type 1 in first or second degree relatives.
  • Patient with contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging: patients with a metallic foreign body, pacemaker, neurostimulator or any electronic medical equipment implanted in a non-removable manner, implantable cardiac defibrillators, prostheses, transdermal patches (placed under the skin), catheters (tubes introduced into a vessel or organ), implantable pumps, artificial heart valves, implants to treat deafness.
  • Patient at high risk of adverse emotional or behavioral reaction based on the investigator's clinical assessment (e.g., severe personality disorder, antisocial behavior, severe current stressors, lack of significant social support, or any psychotic symptoms identified during interviews).

Lab values

  • Patient with a prolonged QTc interval (interval corrected by the Fridericia formula \>450 ms for men and \>470 ms for women
  • Positive serum pregnancy test at inclusion for participants of childbearing potential. NB: a urine pregnancy test will also be performed on the day of psilocybin administration.
  • Patient with any disease or unstable physical condition determined by clinical examination, history or laboratory tests (ECG, blood test at inclusion) These pathologies include cardiovascular comorbidities: history of stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, intracranial hypertension, arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension (greater than 140/90 mmHg at screening), tachycardia (resting heart rate \> 100 beats per minute); organic epileptic syndrome and active neurological comorbidities; endocrine pathologies (dysthyroidism and adrenals, type I diabetes or insulin-requiring type II diabetes, history of severe hypoglycemia requiring hospitalization); significant impairment of liver function; glaucoma; symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction; renal failure; respiratory failure; presence of fever or inflammatory syndrome.

Other

  • Patient unable to express consent
  • It is impossible to give the subject informed information
  • The patient is under safeguard of justice or state guardianship
  • Patient who has used hallucinogenic substances (excluding cannabis) more than 5 times in his/her lifetime or at any time in the last twelve months.
  • Patient with regular consumption of alcoholic beverages (\>20 drinks/week)
  • Participant planning to donate sperm within three months of psilocybin administration
  • Female participant having sexual intercourse that could result in pregnancy and not agreeing to use a highly effective contraceptive method (combined hormonal contraception (containing estrogen and progestin), contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, hormonal progestin-only contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, intrauterine device intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner, and sexual abstinence) throughout their participation in the study and for at least three months after psilocybin administration.
  • Pregnant patient (confirmed by pregnancy test), parturient or breastfeeding, or wishing to become pregnant during their participation in the study
  • Active substance dependence according to the MINI questionnaire (excluding tobacco).
  • Patient whose psychotropic treatment (anxiolytics, antipsychotics, hypnotics, mood stabilizers) has been modified in the last month.
  • Patient suffering from intellectual disability (IQ less than or equal to 75).
  • Patient who has started psychotherapy in the 30 days preceding the screening visit, or whose psychotherapy is likely to undergo changes during the clinical trial.
  • Patient at moderate or severe risk of suicide based on clinical judgment (according to the MINI Suicidality Module).

Who the study is looking for

  • The patient must have given their free and informed consent and signed the consent form
  • The patient must be a member or beneficiary of a health insurance plan
  • Patient with a current DSM-IV diagnosis of moderate or severe major depressive episode (MDE) without psychotic features (based on clinical assessment and confirmed by the MINI interview and the QIDS).
  • Patient who has not responded to at least two antidepressant treatments of different classes, administered appropriately in terms of dose and duration, for a moderate to severe major depressive episode.
  • Patients receiving antidepressant treatment of the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or SNRI (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) classes may maintain this treatment for the duration of the trial, without modification • Patient with a score \> 10 on the QIDS scale.
  • Patient available for a 4-month follow-up.
  • Patient able to speak and understand French easily.

Age in the registry: 25 years to 60 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
CHU de Nimes - Hopital Universitaire Caremeau
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
NîmesFranceUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.