Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Safety, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy of Psilocybin Oral Solution in Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A Phase 2a, Placebo-Controlled Randomized, Double-Blind Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy of Psilocybin Oral Solution in Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Safety, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy of Psilocybin Oral Solution in Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder (NCT06969170) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), sponsored by Queen's University. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This Phase 2a clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of a 3 mg dose of psilocybin oral solution for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The study consists of three sequential phases: Screening Phase (up to 4 weeks), Open-label Run-in Phase (4 weeks), Double-blind Treatment Phase (4 weeks) Screening Phase During the Screening Visit, participants will provide informed consent and undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation, including an abbreviated psychiatric assessment, to determine eligibility. To qualify, patients must have a clinician-rated Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score ≥14. Additionally, participants must not be on regular anxiolytic treatment or must have discontinued such treatment at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the Open-label Run-in Phase. Open-label Run-in Phase Eligible patients will proceed to the 4-week Open-label Run-in Phase. During this phase, patients will attend four weekly clinic visits, supplemented by weekly remote contacts (via phone or email). At different timepoints during the OL Run-in Phase, participants will complete safety assessments, undergo cognitive testing and EEG and other patient reported outcomes (PROs). Double-blind Treatment Phase Participants who demonstrate a treatment response during the Open-label Phase-defined as a ≥50% reduction in GAD-7 score from baseline-will be randomized 1:1 to receive either psilocybin oral solution or placebo at the Double-blind Baseline Visit. Patients not meeting the response criteria will undergo End-of-Treatment (ET) procedures at this visit. At different timepoints during the DB Treatment Phase, participants will complete safety assessments, undergo cognitive testing and EEG and other patient reported outcomes (PROs). Completion of the End of Treatment (ET) phase will be 2 weeks to further assess safety and PROs.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 50 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Must provide written willing to sign a consent form prior to the initiation of any protocol-specific procedures. 2. Male and female adults, between 18 and 60 years of age, inclusive. 3. Meets DSM-V criteria for a primary diagnosis of GAD at Screening (duration of diagnosis ≥1 year, based on self-report), confirmed using the MINI. 4. Clinician-rated GAD-7 score ≥14 at Screening (Visit 1). 5. Clinician-rated HAM-A score ≥14 at Screening (Visit1). 6. Females must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and must fulfil at least one of the following: - Be surgically sterile for a minimum of 6 months (achieved through hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy; note that tubal ligation is not considered a method of permanent sterilization). - Post-menopausal for a minimum of 1 year (confirmed by follicle-stimulating hormone test). - Agree to avoid pregnancy and use a medically acceptable method of contraception with male sexual partners from at least 30 days prior to the study until 30 days after the study has ended (last study procedure). - Medically acceptable methods of contraception include any of the following: - Double-barrier methods (e.g., male condom, spermicide with diaphragm or spermicide with cervical cap) - Oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; or hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device. The male partner should use, at all times, a male condom with spermicide, should the female Patient choose to use any of these methods - Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the Patient's preferred and usual lifestyle. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Must provide written informed consent prior to the initiation of any protocol-specific procedures. 2. Male and female adults, between 18 and 60 years of age, inclusive. 3. Meets DSM-V criteria for a primary diagnosis of GAD at Screening (duration of diagnosis ≥1 year, based on self-report), confirmed using the MINI. 4. Clinician-rated GAD-7 score ≥14 at Screening (Visit 1). 5. Clinician-rated HAM-A score ≥14 at Screening (Visit1). 6. Females must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and must fulfil at least one of the following: * Be surgically sterile for a minimum of 6 months (achieved through hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy; note that tubal ligation is not considered a method of permanent sterilization). * Post-menopausal for a minimum of 1 year (confirmed by follicle-stimulating hormone test). * Agree to avoid pregnancy and use a medically acceptable method of contraception with male sexual partners from at least 30 days prior to the study until 30 days after the study has ended (last study procedure). * Medically acceptable methods of contraception include any of the following: * Double-barrier methods (e.g., male condom, spermicide with diaphragm or spermicide with cervical cap) * Oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; or hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device. The male partner should use, at all times, a male condom with spermicide, should the female Patient choose to use any of these methods * Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the Patient's preferred and usual lifestyle. 7. Males who are able to father children must agree to use medically acceptable methods of contraception during the study and for 30 days after the last study drug administration. If a patient's partner should become pregnant during his participation in the study and for 30 days after he has completed his last study drug administration, the patient must inform study staff immediately. Medically acceptable methods of contraception include: * Using a condom with a female partner of child-bearing potential who is using oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device; or diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide * Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the patient's preferred and usual lifestyle. 8. Males must refrain from sperm donation from clinic admission to at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug. 9. Must be able to speak, read, and understand English sufficiently to allow completion of all study assessments. 10. Must be willing to comply with the requirements and restrictions of the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Personal history of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, delusional disorder, paranoid disorder, moderate or severe panic disorder, moderate or severe social anxiety disorder, schizoaffective disorder, moderate or severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, moderate or severe post-traumatic stress disorder (as assessed by the IES-R), moderate or severe personality disorder (Cluster B and Cluster C only), moderate or severe MDD (as assessed by the MINI and total scores on the MADRS \> 19). 2. History or presence of any clinically significant cardiac, endocrine, hematologic, hepatic, immunologic, metabolic, urologic, pulmonary, neurologic, dermatologic, renal, or other disease at Screening, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the patient or the validity of the study results. 3. Recently initiated non-pharmacological treatment (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychotherapy) with a psychologist or health care professional (i.e., \<4 weeks prior to Screening). Patients who began a stable non-pharmacological treatment regimen \>4 weeks prior to Screening will be permitted. Patients currently stable on treatment will not be permitted to modify or introduce new elements to their existing treatment regimen while enrolled in the study. 4. Currently taking pharmacological treatment for GAD or depressive symptoms on a daily basis as outlined in Table 2. Patients who discontinue pharmacological treatment within a minimum of 4 weeks or more of baseline will be permitted to enroll in the study. Sporadic, prn use of anxiolytics will be permitted; however, patients will be required to document all medication use prior to study enrollment (See Section 9.7). 5. Clinically significant abnormality on ECG, including a QT interval corrected for heart rate (Bazett; QTcB interval) of \>440 milliseconds in males and \>460 milliseconds in females. 6. History of allergies to the investigational product or excipients. 7. History of seizures, family history of seizures, history of head trauma, history of neurosurgery, or close family history of idiopathic generalized epilepsy or other congenital epilepsies. 8. Positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody. 9. Positive urine drug screen at Screening , inclusive of cannabis use at a rate above 0.5g/day or 3g/week; \- Abstinence commitment clause: Patients who use cannabis at below or up to the frequency/amount listed above may be allowed to participate if they are willing and able to discontinue use for the duration of the study period without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. 10. Current or history of moderate or severe drug or alcohol use disorder (excluding caffeine and nicotine) within the past 2 years, or lifetime history of participation in a drug rehabilitation program (other than treatment for smoking cessation). 11. Has used CNS drugs with perception-altering properties (e.g., ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide \[LSD\], phencyclidine \[PCP\], 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine \[MDMA\], mescaline, psilocybin, tryptamine derivatives, or ring-substituted amphetamines with perception-altering effects) on more than 1 occasion for therapeutic or non-therapeutic purposes (i.e., for psychoactive effects) within the past 6 months. History of single or episodic use will not be considered exclusionary. 12. History of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months or active/current suicidality, based on C-SSRS results. 13. Is currently using an investigational drug or device or has used such in the 30 days prior to receiving study drug. 14. Female patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. 15. Patient, in the investigator's opinion, is unsuitable for clinical study participation. Criteria for Randomization into the Double-Blind Treatment Phase 1\. Minimum 50% reduction in GAD-7 score from Open-Label Baseline Visit (Visit 1) to Double-Blind Baseline Visit

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Psilocybin (drug)

Psilocybin 3mg Po (oral solution) administered daily for 28 days (Open-Label Run-in Phase) followed by Psilocybin 3mg Po (oral solution) OR Placebo for 28 days (Double-Blind Treatment Phase) in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD)

OTHER

Placebo

Sucralose 0.2% oral solution

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Kingston General Health Research Institute
Kingston, Ontario, Canada

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06969170), the sponsor (Queen's University), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06969170 clinical trial studying?

This Phase 2a clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of a 3 mg dose of psilocybin oral solution for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The study consists of three sequential phases: Screening Phase (up to 4 weeks), Open-label Run-in Phase (4 weeks), Double-blind Treatment Phase (4 weeks) Screening Phase During the Screening Visit, participants will provide informed consent and undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation, including an abbreviated psychiatric assessment, to determine eligibility. To qualify, patients must have… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06969170?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06969170?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06969170. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06969170. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.