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Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)-Assisted Psychotherapy in People With Illness-Related Anxiety
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, June 2009
First Received: June 12, 2009   No Changes Posted
Sponsor: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Information provided by: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00920387
  Purpose

This study will find out whether psychotherapy combined with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is safe and is helpful in people who are anxious because they have a potentially fatal disease. The study will measure anxiety and quality of life before and after people have two sessions with either full or active placebo dose of LSD. They expect LSD-assisted psychotherapy to reduce anxiety and improve quality of life.


Condition Intervention Phase
Anxiety
Drug: Lysergic acid diethylamide
Phase II

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title: LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy in Persons Suffering From Anxiety Associated With Advanced-Stage Life Threatening Diseases. A Phase-II, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Dose-Response Pilot Study

Resource links provided by NLM:


Further study details as provided by Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Baseline, experimental session 1, non-drug psychotherapy between experimental session 1 and 2, experimental session 2, psychotherapy session 1 wk after experimental session, two months after second experimental session ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Spielberger State-Trait Inventory (STAI) [ Time Frame: Baseline, experimental session 1, psychotherapy between experimental session 1 and experimental session 2, experimental session 2, psychotherapy 1 wk after experimental session 2, two months after second experimental session ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [ Time Frame: Baseline, experimental session 1, psychotherapy between experimental session 1 and experimental session 2, experimental session 2, psychotherapy 1 wk after experimental session 2, two months after second experimental session ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Daily visual analog pain scale (VAPS) [ Time Frame: Once daily from baseline to two months after second experimental session ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Daily Anxiety/Pain Medication Diary [ Time Frame: Once daily from baseline to two months after second experimental session ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 12
Study Start Date: February 2008
Estimated Study Completion Date: April 2010
Estimated Primary Completion Date: October 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
1: Experimental
Administering 200 mcg LSD once during each of two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions scheduled two to four weeks apart.
Drug: Lysergic acid diethylamide
Administering 200 mcg LSD orally once at the start of each of two day-long psychotherapy session
2: Active Comparator
Participant will receive 20 mcg LSD once during two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions scheduled two to four weeks apart
Drug: Lysergic acid diethylamide
Administer 20 mcg LSD orally once at the start of each of two day-long psychotherapy session

Detailed Description:

Diagnosis with a potentially fatal illness is distressing and can provoke anxiety that further reduces quality of life, and a treatment that reduces anxiety when facing deteriorating health and mortality will improve quality of life for people with such illnesses. Forty to fifty years ago, researchers investigated lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in combination with psychotherapy to treat anxiety when facing advanced stage cancer. This psychedelic (hallucinogenic) drug can produce transformative or mystical experiences and insights that can help in anxiety reduction. This study will be a randomized, active placebo controlled,double-blind pilot study of the safety and efficacy of LSD-assisted psychotherapy as a way of reducing anxiety in people with potentially fatal illnesses. This study will examine whether two sessions of LSD-assisted psychotherapy scheduled two to four weeks apart will reduce anxiety and improve quality of life for people experiencing anxiety as a result of a potentially fatal illness.

Study subjects will receive either 200 or 20 mcg (micrograms) LSD during two day-long psychotherapy sessions scheduled two to four weeks apart. Subjects in this study will have a 66% of receiving the full dose of 200 mcg LSD, and they have a 33% chance of getting the active placebo dose of 20 mcg LSD. Neither the researchers nor the subject will know whether he got 200 or 20 mcg LSD.

The randomized part of the study will last three and a half months (14 weeks).

People who learn they got the active placebo dose of LSD during the randomized phase can go on to to take part in an "open label" study phase, where they will get the full dose of LSD during two day-long psychotherapy sessions scheduled two to four weeks apart. "Open label" means that they and the researchers will both be aware that they are getting the full dose of LSD.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Have a diagnosis of advanced-stage potentially fatal illness. As well as metastatic cancer this may include autoimmune, neurological, infectious or rheumatoid diseases as well. The participant must have a probability of survival of more than six months. The estimated life expectancy in relation to the study must be documented.
  • The participant makes the decision to participate in the study by his or her own will and that there is no inhibition to his or her will or ability of deciding due to the primary disease.
  • Meet DSM-IV criteria for Anxiety Disorder as indicated by the SCID or have a score of at least 40 on each part of the STAI.
  • Have failed to respond adequately or at all to medication or psychotherapy intended to reduce anxiety, or have refused to take anxiolytic medication.
  • May be diagnosed with another affective disorder other than anxiety disorder, except bipolar-I disorder.
  • Are at least 18 years of age.
  • Are willing to commit to medication dosing, experimental sessions, follow-up sessions, and to complete evaluation instruments (although they may withdraw from the study at any time without cause).
  • Are willing to withdraw from taking any psychiatric medications during the experimental session period. If they are being treated with medications at the time they are first evaluated, they should independently review their use of these medications with their treatment providers. Such drugs must be discontinued long enough before the first LSD treatment session to avoid the possibility of a drug-drug interaction (the interval will be at least 5 times the particular drug's half-life).
  • If in ongoing psychotherapy, those recruited into the study may continue to see their outside therapist, provided they sign a release for the investigators to communicate directly with their therapist. Participants should not change therapists, increase or decrease the frequency of therapy or commence any new type of therapy until after the evaluation session 2 months after the second LSD treatment session.
  • Participants must agree that, for one week preceding each LSD treatment session:
  • a. Clinical judgment will be used to determine permissible herbal supplements.
  • b. They will not initiate any new prescription medications (except with prior approval of the research team).
  • c. Clinical judgment will be used to determine permissible nonprescription medications.
  • Participants must be willing to follow restrictions and guidelines concerning consumption of food, beverages and nicotine the night before and just prior to ech LSD session. Non-routine PRN medications for treating breakthrough pain taken in the 24 hours preceding the LSD treatment session may result in rescheduling the treatment session to another date, with the decision at the discretion of the investigators after discussion with the participant.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women who are pregnant or nursing, or of child bearing potential and are not practicing an effective means of birth control.
  • Anyone with past or present diagnosis with a primary psychotic disorder.
  • Meeting DSM-IV criteria for Dissociative Disorder or Bipolar-I Affective Disorder.
  • Meeting DSM-IV criteria for abuse of or dependence on any substance (other than caffeine or nicotine) in the past 60 days.
  • Diagnosed with significant somatic problems, that in the clinical judgment of the investigators poses too great a potential for side effects.
  • No sufficient liver function at the baseline examination or the day before the experimental sessions.
  • Having evidence of CNS affection from the primary disease (e.g. brain metastasis), shown by neurocognitive impairment.
  • Weighing less than 45 kg.
  • Reasonably judged to present a serious suicide risk or who are likely to require psychiatric hospitalization during the course of the study.
  • Unable to fully understand the potential risks and benefits of the study and give informed consent.
  • Requiring ongoing concomitant therapy with a psychotropic drug (other than as needed, anxiety medications, and pain control medications) and are unable or unwilling to comply with the washout period.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00920387

Contacts
Contact: Peter Gasser, MD 032 622 40 20 PGasser@gmx.net

Locations
Switzerland
Private Practices of Peter Gasser MD Recruiting
Solothurn, Switzerland
Contact: Peter Gasser, MD     032 622 40 20     Pgasser@gmx.net    
Principal Investigator: Peter Gasser, MD            
Sub-Investigator: Barbara Speich, BSN            
Private Practices of Peter Gasser MD Recruiting
Solothurn, Switzerland
Contact: Peter Gasser, MD     032 622 40 20     Pgasser@gmx.net    
Principal Investigator: Peter Gasser, MD            
Sub-Investigator: Barbara Speich, PhD            
Sponsors and Collaborators
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Peter Gasser, MD Private practices of Peter Gasser; Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy (SAPT)
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies ( Rick Doblin; President )
Study ID Numbers: LDA1
Study First Received: June 12, 2009
Last Updated: June 12, 2009
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00920387     History of Changes
Health Authority: Switzerland: Swissmedic;   United States: Food and Drug Administration

Keywords provided by Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies:
Anxiety
quality of life
psychotherapy
potentially fatal illness
lysergic acid diethylamide

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Serotonin Agonists
Neurotransmitter Agents
Serotonin Antagonists
Serotonin Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Therapeutic Uses
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Psychotropic Drugs
Hallucinogens
Central Nervous System Agents
Pharmacologic Actions

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on February 08, 2010