Psilocybin to Treat Depression in Spinal Cord Injury

Drug
Mental health and psychosocial factors
Online since 4 April 2026, updated 6 days ago

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 30 participants with chronic spinal cord injury to test the safety and tolerability of psilocybin, a hallucinogenic drug that activates specific pathways in the nervous system that regulate a number of body functions, including mood, and may influence symptoms of major depression. If included, participants will take psilocybin by mouth at one of three dose levels (5 mg, 10 mg, or 25 mg) across seven site visits. Participants will not know the dose they receive. Each will also attend additional in-person and remote follow-up visits, and maintain symptom and unexpected or harmful event logs over 1 year. Final testing of safety and tolerability will be performed after 13 months.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
≥ 22 years
Injury level
C1 - S5
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • Time since injury
    ≥ 12 months
    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-S5
    Additionally, participants must
    have a confirmed diagnosis of depression

    What’s involved

    Type

    Drug

    Details

    - Participants will take psilocybin at one of three dose levels (5 mg, 10 mg, or 25 mg) across seven core visits, attend additional in-person and remote follow-up visits, and maintain symptom and adverse-event logs over 1 year. - Psilocybin is a drug that activates serotonin pathways in the nervous system and may influence symptoms of major depression. - Final testing of safety and tolerability will be performed after 13 months.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Mental health and psychosocial factors

    Additional benefits

    General health

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more


    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting soon
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Jan 2026
    • Organisation
    • James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting soon
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Jan 2026
    • Organisation
    • James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more