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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Psilocybin and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Psilocybin and MDMA for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Psilocybin and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (NCT06989957) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, sponsored by Johns Hopkins 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

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of co-administered MDMA and psilocybin in military Veterans with a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To apply or learn more, please view our website: https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/pamvet

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

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.

With a target enrollment of 40 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - \>=21 years old - Military Veteran - Have given written willing to sign a consent form - Able to swallow pills - Have a confirmed DSM-5 diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder with symptom duration \>= 6 months - Have a baseline CAPS-5 score of \>=28 - Be judged by study team clinicians to be at low acute risk for suicidality - Concurrent psychotherapy is allowed if the type and frequency of the therapy has been stable for at least two months prior to screening and is expected to remain stable during participation in the study. - Be medically stable as determined by screening for medical problems via a personal interview, a medical questionnaire, a physical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and routine medical blood and urinalysis laboratory tests - Agree to consume approximately the same amount of caffeine-containing beverage (e.g., coffee, tea) that he/she consumes on a usual morning, before arriving at the research unit on the mornings of drug session days. If the participant does not routinely consume caffeinated beverages, he/she must agree not to do so on session days. - Agree to refrain from using any psychoactive drugs, including alcoholic beverages within 24 hours of each drug administration. The exceptions are caffeine and nicotine. - Agree to refrain from using any caffeine or nicotine within 2 hours of dosing session start. - Agree not to take any as needed (PRN) medications on the mornings of drug sessions without approval of the treatment team. - Agree not to take sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil, or similar medications within 72 hours of each drug administration. - Agree to stop taking 5HT2A antagonist medications at least 5 half-lives before dosing. ...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: * \>=21 years old * Military Veteran * Have given written informed consent * Able to swallow pills * Have a confirmed DSM-5 diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder with symptom duration \>= 6 months * Have a baseline CAPS-5 score of \>=28 * Be judged by study team clinicians to be at low acute risk for suicidality * Concurrent psychotherapy is allowed if the type and frequency of the therapy has been stable for at least two months prior to screening and is expected to remain stable during participation in the study. * Be medically stable as determined by screening for medical problems via a personal interview, a medical questionnaire, a physical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and routine medical blood and urinalysis laboratory tests * Agree to consume approximately the same amount of caffeine-containing beverage (e.g., coffee, tea) that he/she consumes on a usual morning, before arriving at the research unit on the mornings of drug session days. If the participant does not routinely consume caffeinated beverages, he/she must agree not to do so on session days. * Agree to refrain from using any psychoactive drugs, including alcoholic beverages within 24 hours of each drug administration. The exceptions are caffeine and nicotine. * Agree to refrain from using any caffeine or nicotine within 2 hours of dosing session start. * Agree not to take any as needed (PRN) medications on the mornings of drug sessions without approval of the treatment team. * Agree not to take sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil, or similar medications within 72 hours of each drug administration. * Agree to stop taking 5HT2A antagonist medications at least 5 half-lives before dosing. * Agree that for one week before each drug session, he/she will refrain from taking any nonprescription medication, nutritional supplement, or herbal supplement except when approved by the study investigators. Exceptions will be evaluated by the study investigators and will include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and common doses of vitamins and minerals. * Have no lifetime use of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) agonist hallucinogens and/or MDMA at a greater dosage than a level typically defined as 'microdose.' * Have at least a high school level of education or equivalent (e.g. GED). * Weigh between 40kg- 120kg. * Must provide a contact (relative, spouse, close friend or other support person) who is willing and able to be reached by the investigators in the event of a participant becoming suicidal or unreachable * Agree to be released into the custody of a close friend or family member who has agreed to take charge of the study participant as a condition of leaving the testing facility, or agree to be accompanied home or to an accommodation by a member of the study team * May have a history of or current Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) if additional screening measures rule out underlying cardiovascular disease, if the condition is judged to be stable on effective management, and with approval by the Medical Monitor * May have hypothyroidism if taking adequate and stable thyroid replacement medication * May have a history of, or current, glaucoma if approval for study participation is received from an ophthalmologist Exclusion Criteria: * Current or past history of meeting DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders (except substance/medication-induced or due to another medical condition), or Bipolar I or II Disorder * Current or history within one year of meeting DSM-5 criteria for a moderate or severe alcohol, or other drug use disorder (excluding tobacco, caffeine, and cannabis) * Current or history within one year of meeting DSM-5 criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder. * Clinically significant suicidal ideation (e.g. with strong intent or means; C-SSRS \> 3) within past 6 months * Have a first degree relative with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders (except substance/medication-induced or due to another medical condition), or bipolar I disorder * Nicotine dependence that would be incompatible with an individual to be nicotine free for 8-10 hours on a dosing session day * Medical condition incompatible with MDMA or psilocybin administration (e.g., cardiovascular, drug-induced hyperthermia, hyponatremia). * Currently taking on a daily basis any medications (including herbal substances and supplements) with a Central Nervous System effect on serotonin (including serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)), or any medications that affect liver enzyme (2D6) metabolism (e.g., Bupropion) * Currently taking efavirenz, Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors such as disulfiram (Antabuse), Alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors, uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase enzyme (UGT1A9) inhibitors or UGT1A10 inhibitors such as phenytoin, regorafenib, eltrombopag. * On unstable/changing dose of opioid, benzodiazepine or other psychoactive or pain medication within 4 weeks prior to enrollment and/or unable to abstain from medication on drug administration day * Current use/positive toxicology for illicit drugs; or positive breath alcohol test at screening and/or prior to each drug administration session * Lifetime use of any psychedelic drug (e.g., MDMA, psilocybin) at a dosage greater than a level typically defined as 'microdose.' * Clinically significant transaminitis (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than two times normal value). * Women who are pregnant (as indicated by a positive urine pregnancy test assessed at intake and before each drug session) or nursing; * Women who are of child-bearing potential and sexually active agree to use highly effective means of birth control (i.e. implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, progestin-containing intrauterine device (IUD) or vasectomised partner) for the duration of this study. * Cardiovascular conditions: coronary artery disease, stroke, angina, uncontrolled hypertension, a clinically significant ECG abnormality (e.g., atrial fibrillation), prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) (i.e., QTc \> 450 msec), heart valve, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the past year. * History of seizures and/or epilepsy with history of seizures. * Type 1 diabetes. * BMI \< 18 * Are likely, in the investigator's opinion and via observation during the Preparatory Period, to be re-exposed to the index trauma or other significant trauma in daily life, lack social support, or lack a stable living situation. * Have received Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) within 12 weeks of enrollment * Have a history of any medical condition that could make receiving a sympathomimetic drug harmful because of increases in blood pressure and heart rate. This includes, but is not limited to, a history of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or aneurysm. * Participants with other mild, stable chronic medical problems may be enrolled if the site physician and investigators agree the condition would not significantly increase the risk of MDMA administration or be likely to produce significant symptoms during the study that could interfere with study participation or be confused with side effects of the study drugs. Examples of stable medical conditions that could be allowed include, but are not limited to Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), etc. * Any medical disorder judged by the investigator to significantly increase the risk of MDMA administration by any mechanism would require exclusion * Have symptomatic liver disease or significant liver enzyme elevations

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Psilocybin

Experimental Psilocybin (exact dosages not disclosed)

DRUG

Psilocybin

Comparator Psilocybin (exact dosages not disclosed)

DRUG

MDMA

Experimental MDMA (exact dosages not disclosed)

DRUG

MDMA

Comparator MDMA (exact dosages not disclosed)

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.

Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
Baltimore, Maryland, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06989957), the sponsor (Johns Hopkins 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 NCT06989957 clinical trial studying?

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of co-administered MDMA and psilocybin in military Veterans with a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To apply or learn more, please view our website: https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/pamvet The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06989957?

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 NCT06989957?

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 NCT06989957. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06989957. 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.