This pilot clinical trial will study psilocybin-assisted therapy for adults with advanced cancer who are experiencing demoralization, existential distress, or related psychological concerns. Demoralization can include feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, loss of meaning, and distress related to illness or end of life. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a hybrid group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy program is feasible, acceptable, and safe in adults with advanced cancer. The study will also explore which combination of psilocybin dose and psychotherapy approach may be most promising for a future larger trial. Participants will be randomly assigned by wave to one of four intervention combinations: 25 mg psilocybin with mindfulness-based psilocybin-assisted therapy, 25 mg psilocybin with standard psilocybin-assisted therapy, 5 mg psilocybin with mindfulness-based psilocybin-assisted therapy, or 5 mg psilocybin with standard psilocybin-assisted therapy. The psilocybin dose will be blinded, meaning participants and some members of the study team will not know which dose was assigned. Psychotherapy approach will not be blinded. The study will enroll at least 60 participants across Calgary and Kingston.
PAT-MIND is a multi-site, phase IIb pilot feasibility and therapy-optimization trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy in adults with advanced cancer. The study uses a wave-randomized 2×2 factorial design to examine two intervention components: psilocybin dose and psychotherapy intensity. Participants will be enrolled in small waves, and each wave will be randomized to one of four combinations: high-dose psilocybin plus mindfulness-based psilocybin-assisted therapy, high-dose psilocybin plus standard psilocybin-assisted therapy, low-dose psilocybin plus mindfulness-based psilocybin-assisted therapy, or low-dose psilocybin plus standard psilocybin-assisted therapy. The psilocybin dose comparison is blinded. Participants will receive either 25 mg or 5 mg psilocybin during a monitored in-person group dosing session. The psychotherapy intensity comparison is not blinded. Participants will receive either mindfulness-based psilocybin-assisted therapy or standard psilocybin-assisted therapy, depending on their randomized intervention combination. Preparation and integration sessions will be delivered using a hybrid format, with some sessions conducted in person and some virtually, depending on the session type and site logistics. The primary aims of this pilot trial are to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of hybrid group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy in adults with advanced cancer, and to explore therapy-optimization signals for psilocybin dose and psychotherapy intensity to inform a future definitive trial. Exploratory objectives include participant experience, demoralization, secondary psychological outcomes, health-related quality of life, health-economic measures, and exploratory biomarker outcomes. Study procedures include screening, informed consent, trial-specific questionnaires, group and individual preparation and integration sessions, a monitored psilocybin dosing day, dried blood spot collection, stool sample collection, optional wearable device data collection, and medical chart review. Participants will complete online questionnaires at protocol-defined timepoints, including measures of demoralization, psychological distress, quality of life, treatment experience, and resource use. Safety will be monitored throughout the study, including adverse event monitoring during and after the dosing session.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
60
Participants randomized to this dose condition will receive a single 25 mg oral dose of PEX010 (psilocybin) during a monitored in-person group dosing session, together with protocol-defined psychotherapeutic support
Participants randomized to this dose condition will receive a single 5 mg oral dose of PEX010 (psilocybin) during a monitored in-person group dosing session, together with protocol-defined psychotherapeutic support. This is a blinded low-dose active comparator condition.
Participants randomized to this psychotherapy condition will receive standard psilocybin-assisted therapy, including protocol-defined preparation, dosing-day support, and integration sessions. The intervention is delivered in a hybrid format, with some sessions conducted in person and some virtually, depending on session type and site logistics.
Participants randomized to this psychotherapy condition will receive mindfulness-based psilocybin-assisted therapy, including protocol-defined preparation, dosing-day support, and integration sessions. The intervention includes mindfulness-based therapeutic elements and is delivered in a hybrid format, with some sessions conducted in person and some virtually, depending on session type and site logistics.
Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Providence Care Hospital
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Overall Trial Feasibility Based on Prespecified RED/YELLOW/GREEN Progression Criteria
Overall trial feasibility will be assessed using prespecified progression criteria covering recruitment, intervention delivery, and retention. Component metrics include screening completion among referred individuals, eligibility among screened individuals, enrollment among eligible individuals, preparation-session attendance, integration-session attendance, completion of the 1-week post-dose assessment (A3), and completion of the 3-month follow-up (A5). Each component will be expressed as a proportion and classified according to prespecified RED (review), YELLOW (amend), or GREEN (go) thresholds. The overall feasibility classification will be determined by the worst-performing component, resulting in a single overall RED/YELLOW/GREEN progression classification. Feasibility will be assessed pooled across all four intervention arms.
Time frame: From initial referral/screening through the 3-month follow-up (A5), up to approximately 4 months
Incidence of Adverse Events (AEs)
Safety will be assessed in all participants who receive psilocybin. Adverse events will be collected from informed consent through the 3-month follow-up (A5) and summarized as the number and proportion of participants experiencing one or more adverse events. Events will be characterized by severity, relationship to psilocybin, dose group, and timing. Serious adverse events (SAEs) and protocol-defined adverse events of special interest (AESIs) will be identified and summarized as prespecified safety categories.
Time frame: From informed consent through the 3-month follow-up (A5), approximately up to 4 months
Change in Demoralization Scale-II (DS-II) Total Score
Demoralization will be assessed using the Demoralization Scale-II (DS-II), a 16-item self-report measure. Each item is scored from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 32. Higher scores indicate greater demoralization (a worse outcome). The outcome is the change in DS-II total score from baseline (A1) to 1 week post-dosing (A3).
Time frame: Baseline to 1 week post-dose
Change in anxiety symptoms assessed by PROMIS Anxiety Short Form 8a
Anxiety symptoms will be assessed using the 8-item PROMIS Anxiety Short Form 8a. Change in anxiety will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in depressive symptoms assessed by PROMIS Depression Short Form 8a
Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the 8-item PROMIS Depression Short Form 8a. Change in depressive symptoms will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS) Total Score
Death and dying distress will be assessed using the 15-item Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS). Each item is scored from 0 to 5, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 75. Higher scores indicate greater death and dying distress and therefore a worse outcome. Change in DADDS total score will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being 12-Item Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) Score
Spiritual well-being will be assessed using the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being scale (FACIT-Sp-12). Change in spiritual well-being will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in PROMIS Pain Intensity Score
Pain intensity will be assessed using the 3-item PROMIS Pain Intensity measure. Change in pain intensity will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in PROMIS Pain Interference Score
Pain interference will be assessed using the 4-item PROMIS Pain Interference measure. Change in pain interference will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in EuroQol Five-Dimension Five-Level (EQ-5D-5L) Health Utility Score
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the EuroQol Five-Dimension Five-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Responses across the five dimensions will be converted to health-utility values using an appropriate validated value set. Change in health utility will be evaluated across follow-up.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
Change in Mindfulness Assessed by the Mindful Allowance 8-Item Short Form
Mindfulness will be assessed using the Mindful Allowance 8-Item Short Form, a PROMIS-based self-report measure. Change in mindfulness will be evaluated from baseline across post-dose follow-up assessments. Higher scores indicate greater mindful allowance/mindfulness.
Time frame: Baseline through 3 months post-dose
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.