Pilot Trial of Visual Healing in Psilocybin-assisted Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
Open-label, randomised, Phase II pilot RCT (n=20) comparing psilocybin 25 mg with Visual Healing versus standard set and setting in adults with moderate–severe alcohol use disorder to assess feasibility, safety and tolerability.
Detailed Description
This randomised, open-label, parallel-group pilot trial assigns 20 adults with moderate–severe alcohol use disorder to psilocybin 25 mg plus the Visual Healing set-and-setting platform or psilocybin 25 mg with standard set-and-setting to evaluate feasibility, safety, and tolerability.
Participants receive an initial psilocybin session (25 mg) with assigned set-and-setting and preparatory and integration counselling; four weeks later all participants receive a second 25 mg session where they may choose Visual Healing or standard procedures. Outcomes focus on adverse events, retention, and feasibility metrics.
Study Protocol
Preparation
Dosing
Integration
Therapeutic Protocol
Study Arms & Interventions
Visual Healing
experimentalPsilocybin 25 mg with Visual Healing set-and-setting (nature-themed VR/videos) plus prep and integration counselling; second psilocybin session at 4 weeks (participant choice of condition).
Interventions
- Psilocybin25 mgvia Oral• two sessions• 2 doses total
First session with Visual Healing; second session at 4 weeks (participant may choose Visual Healing or standard).
Standard setting
active comparatorPsilocybin 25 mg with standard set-and-setting plus prep and integration counselling; second psilocybin session at 4 weeks (participant choice).
Interventions
- Psilocybin25 mgvia Oral• two sessions• 2 doses total
Standard set-and-setting; second session at 4 weeks (participant may choose Visual Healing or standard).
Participants
Inclusion Criteria
- Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 or older
- Able to read, speak, and understand English
- Alcohol use disorder, moderate-severe, according to DSM-5 criteria
- Interested in stopping or reducing alcohol use
- Able and willing to adhere to study requirements, including attending all study visits, preparatory, and follow-up sessions, and completing all study evaluations
- Able to swallow capsules
- Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to practice an effective means of birth control throughout the duration of the study
- Have an identified support person
- Agree to be driven home (or to an otherwise safe destination) by the support person, or another responsible party, following dosing
Exclusion Criteria
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Alcohol withdrawal requiring medical intervention
- Women who are pregnant, or women who intend to become pregnant during the study or who are currently nursing
- Unwilling or unable to discontinue formal alcohol use disorder treatment
- Significant current or history of cardiovascular condition
- Have a history of stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Moderate to severe liver impairment
- Epilepsy
- Insulin-dependent diabetes
- Diabetes and taking oral hypoglycemic agent with a history of hypoglycemia requiring serious medical intervention
Study Details
- StatusActive not recruiting
- PhasePhase II
- Typeinterventional
- DesignRandomized
- Target Enrollment20 participants
- TimelineStart: 2021-03-01End: 2022-07-01
- Compounds
- Topic