New York University Psilocybin & Cancer

The primary objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study is to assess the efficacy of psilocybin on psychosocial distress, with the specific primary outcome variable being anxiety associated with advanced cancer. Secondary outcome measures will look at the effect of psilocybin on symptoms of pain perception, depression, existential/psychospiritual distress, attitudes toward disease progression, quality of life, and spiritual/mystical states of consciousness.

Although the outcome measures will be similar to those used in the Harbor-UCLA study run by Dr. Grob, the proposed dose of psilocybin will be somewhat higher at 0.3mg/kg and the total subjects for this study will be 32 instead of 12. Stephen Ross, M.D., is the Principal Investigator of this project and subject enrollment began in April, 2009. For more information and details regarding this study or to discuss the referral of a patient, please call Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Clinical Research Coordinator, at (646) 501-4206 or by email at gabrielle.agin-liebes@nyumc.org.