Psilocybin for the Treatment of Cluster Headache

December 8, 2023 updated by: Deepak C. D'Souza, Yale University

Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin for the Treatment of Headache Disorders

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an oral psilocybin pulse regimen in cluster headache. Subjects will be randomized to receive oral placebo, low dose psilocybin, or high dose psilocybin in three experimental sessions, each separated by 5 days. Subjects will maintain a headache diary prior to, during, and after the pulse regimen in order to document headache frequency and intensity before, during, and after the pulse regimen. After at least 6 months from the last experimental session, subjects may be invited for a second round, in which they will be randomized to receive either low dose or high dose psilocybin.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
25

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Connecticut
      • West Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06516
        • VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Chronic cluster headache with at least one attack daily
  • Episodic cluster headache with periods that are predictable and have a duration of approximately 2 months
  • Attacks are managed by means involving no more than twice weekly triptan use (e.g., high-flow oxygen, heat/cold pack)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Axis I psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar I, depression with psychosis)
  • Axis I psychotic disorder in first degree relative
  • Unstable medical condition, severe renal, cardiac or hepatic disease, pacemaker, or serious central nervous system pathology
  • Pregnant, breastfeeding, lack of adequate birth control
  • History of intolerance to psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or related compounds
  • Drug or alcohol abuse within the past 3 months (excluding tobacco)
  • Urine toxicology positive to drugs of abuse
  • Use of vasoconstrictive medications (i.e. sumatriptan, pseudoephedrine, midodrine) within five half-lives of test days
  • Use of serotonergic antiemetics (i.e. ondansetron) in the past 2 weeks
  • Use of antidepressant medications (i.e. amitriptyline, isocarboxazid, fluoxetine, citalopram) in the past 6 weeks
  • Use of steroids or certain other immunomodulatory agents (i.e. azathioprine) in the past 2 weeks

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Drug: Placebo
Microcrystalline cellulose capsule ingested on each of three test days (5 days apart +/- 1-2 days)
Active Comparator: Psilocybin High Dose
Drug: 0.143 mg/kg Psilocybin or 10 mg Psilocybin
0.143 mg/kg psilocybin capsule (weight-based option) or 10 mg psilocybin capsule (fixed-dose option) ingested on each of three test days (5 days apart +/- 1-2 days)
Active Comparator: Psilocybin Low Dose
Drug: 0.0143 mg/kg Psilocybin or 1 mg Psilocybin
0.0143 mg/kg psilocybin capsule (weight-based option) or 1 mg psilocybin (fixed-dose option) ingested on each of three test days (5 days apart +/- 1-2 days)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to first attack after completion of pulse regimen
Time Frame: Two months following the completion of pulse regimen (after completion of experimental sessions 1, 2, and 3)
Measured in days
Two months following the completion of pulse regimen (after completion of experimental sessions 1, 2, and 3)
Time to last attack after completion of pulse regimen
Time Frame: Six months following the completion of pulse regimen (after completion of experimental sessions 1, 2, and 3)
Measured in days
Six months following the completion of pulse regimen (after completion of experimental sessions 1, 2, and 3)
Change in frequency of attacks
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Average number of attacks (number per week)
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Change in intensity of attacks
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Average intensity of attacks (1-10 on visual analog scale)
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Change in duration of attacks
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Average duration of attacks (minutes)
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Change in cluster period duration compared to typical cluster period (episodic subjects only)
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before pulse regimen to 6 months following the completion of pulse regimen, then comparing to historical average duration of cluster periods
Duration of cluster period after intervention (days)
Measured from 2 weeks before pulse regimen to 6 months following the completion of pulse regimen, then comparing to historical average duration of cluster periods
Difference in the change in cluster attack frequency between 1st and 2nd round
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion for each of the two pulse regimens using a headache diary
Average number of attacks (number per week); only in those subjects who return for 2nd round
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion for each of the two pulse regimens using a headache diary
Difference in the change in cluster attack intensity between 1st and 2nd round
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion for each of the two pulse regimens using a headache diary
Average intensity of attacks (1-10 on visual analog scale); only in those subjects who return for 2nd round
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion for each of the two pulse regimens using a headache diary
Difference in the change in the duration of attacks between 1st and 2nd round
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion for each of the two pulse regimens using a headache diary
Average duration of attacks (minutes); only in those subjects who return for 2nd round
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion for each of the two pulse regimens using a headache diary

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Use of abortive/rescue medication
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Number of times per week
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Attack-free time
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Number of 24 hour days (may be nonconsecutive)
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Health-Related Quality of life
Time Frame: Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Using the CDC's Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) scale
Measured from 2 weeks before to 2 months after completion of pulse regimen using a headache diary
Psychedelic effects
Time Frame: Taken daily on each experimental day after the resolution of psychedelic effects, approximately 6 hours after drug administration
Using the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) scale
Taken daily on each experimental day after the resolution of psychedelic effects, approximately 6 hours after drug administration
Change in blood pressure
Time Frame: Measured during each experimental session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour after drug administration, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)
Maximum change from baseline during each experimental session (mmHg)
Measured during each experimental session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour after drug administration, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)
Change in heart rate
Time Frame: Measured during each experimental session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour after drug administration, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)
Maximum change from baseline during each experimental session (beats per minute)
Measured during each experimental session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour after drug administration, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)
Change in peripheral oxygenation
Time Frame: Measured during each experimental session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour after drug administration, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)
Maximum change from baseline during each experimental session (SpO2)
Measured during each experimental session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour after drug administration, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Yale University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Heffter Research Institute
Ceruvia Lifesciences
CH TAC LLC

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 5, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 21, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 11, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 30, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 5, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 15, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 8, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1607018057

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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