PsilOCD: A Pharmacological-Challenge Feasibility Study
Single-group mechanistic feasibility study (n=19) administering up to 10 mg psilocybin (COMP360) on two occasions to people with OCD to assess cognitive inflexibility, neuroplasticity, and symptom changes.
Detailed Description
This within-subjects study administers up to 10 mg psilocybin on two dosing days separated by four weeks to participants meeting DSM-5 criteria for OCD; dosing is supervised medically with psychological support from two therapists.
Participants receive virtual preparation and integration sessions before and after each dosing day; cognitive tasks, acute EEG, and blood sampling assess neuroplasticity and inflammatory markers, with symptom ratings (Y-BOCS, MADRS) performed by a blinded external psychiatrist.
Outcomes focus on changes in cognitive flexibility, decision-making, peripheral neuroplasticity and inflammation markers, EEG measures, and OCD symptom trajectory across the dosing schedule.
Study Protocol
Preparation
Dosing
Integration
Therapeutic Protocol
Study Arms & Interventions
Psilocybin (COMP360)
experimentalAll participants receive up to 10 mg psilocybin on two dosing days (4 weeks apart).
Interventions
- Psilocybin10 mgvia Oral• two sessions• 2 doses total
COMP360; up to 10 mg administered on each of two dosing days (separated by 4 weeks)
Participants
Inclusion Criteria
- Key Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 20 to 65 years;
- Any gender;
- A primary diagnosis of OCD (based on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.));
- Has met diagnostic criteria for OCD for at least 12 months;
- Willing to comply with protocol and associated lifestyle restrictions;
- Adequate understanding of the English language to give informed consent and participate in the study;
- Participant can attend visits as an outpatient;
- Comfortable using a computer, access to internet from home, and willing to participate in some of the study visits via video-link.
Exclusion Criteria
- Key Exclusion Criteria:
- Current or past history of dependent (according to ICD10 criteria) substance use (not including nicotine and/or caffeine), Tourette's syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, organic mental disorder, or a personality disorder apart from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder;
- Current or past history of psychosis or mania in themselves or a first-degree relative;
- Unstable physical health;
- Significantly abnormal clinical test result;
- Heavy smoker, or unable to attend the dosing days (including the subsequent recovery part) without a smoking break;
- Unwillingness to allow their GP or mental health practitioners to be informed of their participation (or, to allow study team access to Summary Care Record).
Study Details
- StatusCompleted
- PhasePhase I
- Typeinterventional
- DesignNon-randomized
- Target Enrollment19 participants
- TimelineStart: 2022-10-28End: 2024-07-30
- Compound
- Topic