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FibromyalgiaPsiloFMNCT06368492

The Impact of Psilocybin on Pain in Fibromyalgia Patients

A study testing Psilocybin and Hypnosis script in people with Fibromyalgia, run by Maastricht University at 2 sites in Netherlands.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Rationale: Recent evidence shows that Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), even when administered in low, non-hallucinogenic doses, can produce analgesic effects and improve pain tolerance in a sample of healthy volunteers. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Fibromyalgia
What is being tested?
Psilocybin and Hypnosis script
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
35 participants
Where
2 sitesNetherlands
Study dates
3 May 2024to Dec 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age between 18 and 65 years
  • Normal weight, body mass index (weight/height2) between 18 and 28 kg/m2
  • Fulfilment of the American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM diagnosis (43)
  • A minimum Numeric Rating Scale (numeric rating scale) pain score of 5 out of 10
  • Proficient knowledge of the Dutch or English language
  • Written Informed Consent
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Understanding the procedures and the risks associated with the study
  • No regular use of psychotropic medication such as opiates, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, sleep aids, benzodiazepines. Non pharmacological regimens will be allowed along 1 rescue therapy such as acetaminophen ≤4,000 mg/day, ibuprofen ≤1,200 mg/day, naproxen ≤660 mg/day, or ketoprofen ≤75 mg/day. Use of paracetamol (PCM) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) will be allowed and monitored.
  • Willingness to refrain from taking psychoactive substances during the study.
  • Willingness to drink only alcohol-free liquids and no coffee, black or green tea, or energy drinks after midnight of the evening before the study session, as well as during the study days
  • Willingness not to drive a traffic vehicle or to operate machines within 24 h after substance administration

Who cannot join

  • Presence of any other painful condition such as inflammatory rheumatic diseases, migraines or headaches and of other chronic or acute medical conditions
  • Presence or history of any other psychiatric condition such as primary major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders or substance use disorder as determined by the medical questionnaire, drug questionnaire and medical examination
  • Previous experience of serious side effects to psychedelic drugs (anxiety or panic attacks)
  • Tobacco smoking (>20 per day)
  • Excessive drinking (>20 alcoholic consumptions per week)
  • Psychotic disorder in first-degree relatives
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Hypertension (diastolic > 90 mmHg; systolic > 140 mmHg)
  • History of cardiac dysfunctions (arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease…)
  • For women: no use of a reliable contraceptive

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Netherlands2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Leiden University Medical Center

    Leiden, South Holland, 2333

    Monique van Velzen, PhD, M.van_Velzen@lumc.nl

    Recruiting
  • Maastricht University

    Maastricht, Limburg, 6226AK

    Mauro Cavarra, MSc, +313494438261, m.cavarra@maastrichtuniversity.nl

    Recruiting

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: The Impact of Psilocybin on Pain in Fibromyalgia Patients: a Multicentre Trial.

Rationale: Recent evidence shows that Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), even when administered in low, non-hallucinogenic doses, can produce analgesic effects and improve pain tolerance in a sample of healthy volunteers. Such results complement what was already observed with other serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin: survey studies and case series indicate that its use may lead to improvements in chronic pain conditions such as migraines, cluster headaches and phantom limb pain even at low, non-psychedelic doses. These effects have however not yet been investigated and confirmed in clinical populations under controlled experimental conditions.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterised by widespread pain, hyperalgesia, anxiety, disturbed sleep patterns, impaired cognitive functioning and comorbid mood disorders. Most suggested therapies are only associated with small improvements in pain ratings and quality of life. Currently, there is no data concerning the effectiveness of serotonergic psychedelics in improving pain ratings in fibromyalgia patients.

Read more

Objective: The present study will explore the effects that the administration of a placebo and 2 low psilocybin doses (5 mg or 10 mg) will have on pain perception in a group of fibromyalgia patients.

Study design: The present study uses a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design. All participants will receive a placebo and 2 doses of psilocybin (5 mg or 10 mg) and will undergo the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) and the Pain Pressure Threshold Task (PPT) o test its analgesic effects.

Read the detailed description

Rationale: Recent evidence shows that Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), even when administered in low, non-hallucinogenic doses, can produce analgesic effects and improve pain tolerance in a sample of healthy volunteers. Such results complement what was already observed with other serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin: survey studies and case series indicate that its use may lead to improvements in chronic pain conditions such as migraines, cluster headaches and phantom limb pain even at low, non-psychedelic doses. These effects have however not yet been investigated and confirmed in clinical populations under controlled experimental conditions.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterised by widespread pain, hyperalgesia, anxiety, disturbed sleep patterns, impaired cognitive functioning and comorbid mood disorders. It has high direct and indirect costs and it is considered challenging to treat. Most suggested therapies, in fact, are only associated with small improvements in pain ratings and quality of life. Currently, there is no data concerning the effectiveness of serotonergic psychedelics in improving pain ratings in fibromyalgia patients.

Objective: The present study will explore the effects that the administration of a placebo and 2 low psilocybin doses (5 mg or 10 mg) will have on pain perception in a group of fibromyalgia patients.

Study design: The present study uses a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design. All participants will receive a placebo and 2 doses of psilocybin (5 mg or 10 mg) and will undergo the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) and the Pain Pressure Threshold Task (PPT) o test its analgesic effects.

Study population: 35 fibromyalgia patients aged 18 to 65 years. Intervention: Placebo, 5 mg or 10 mg of psilocybin in randomized order. Main study parameters/endpoints: Primary outcomes will be subjective and objective measures of pain perception. Secondary measures will assess the effects that placebo and psilocybin will have on mood, cognition and psychedelic experience. Finally, participants will take part to an additional CPT after receiving hypnotic suggestions of analgesia to test whether such intervention may moderate pain ratings of individuals who took small doses of psilocybin.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Participants will visit the research lab 5 times during 5 weeks. Before the first study day, subjects will come for a screening visit during which they will also be familiarized with tests and study procedures. This includes a medical screening by a licensed physician (medical history review, laboratory screening, electrocardiogram recording). The study visits will consist of taking the study treatment (5 mg or 10 mg of psilocybin or placebo), taking part to the experimental tasks, taking blood samples, completing computer tasks and filling out questionnaires. Finally, participants will take part to a final online visit to administer post-study questionnaires.

Conditions
Fibromyalgia
Being tested
Psilocybin, Hypnosis script
Keywords
fibromyalgia, psychedelics, psilocybin, chronic pain
Medical subject headings
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PsilocybinDrug

    Each participant will receive 2 different doses of psilocybin (5mg and 10mg) and a matching placebo on three separate occasions.

  • Hypnosis scriptBehavioural

    All participants will receive a brief hypnotic induction aimed at producing analgesia before the second administration of CPT

Study groups in NCT06368492
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Patient groupExperimentalEach participant will receive 2 different doses of psilocybin (5mg and 10mg) and a matching placebo on three separate occasions.
Receives: Drug: Psilocybin; Behavioral: Hypnosis script

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Ischemic Pain perception

    Pain tolerance (seconds) in the Cold Pressor Task

    Measured: 1.5, 2.5 and 4 hours after administration

  2. Pressure-evoked Pain perception

    Pain threshold (kPa) in the Pressure Pain Threshold

    Measured: 1.5 and 4 hours after administration

  3. Self-reported pain

    Painfulness Visual Analogue Scale (0: no pain; 10 worst pain)

    Measured: 1.5, 2.5 and 4 hours after administration

Secondary outcomes (20)
  1. Subjective effects: psychedelic phenomenology

    5 Dimensions of altered states of consciousness (5D-ASC)

    Measured: Baseline, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after administration

  2. Subjective effects: mood

    Profile of mood states (POMS)

    Measured: Baseline, 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after administration

  3. Subjective effects: intensity of effects

    Intensity of effects Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0: not under the influence; 10: very much under the influence)

    Measured: Baseline, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after administration

  4. Subjective effects: Ego dissolution

    Ego Dissolution Inventory(EDI)

    Measured: 6 hours after administration

  5. Subjective effects: Dissociation

    Clinical Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)

    Measured: Baseline and 6 hours after administration

  6. Psychiatric symptoms

    Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)

    Measured: Baseline and 6 hours after administration

  7. Cognitive performance

    Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) - time to complete in seconds and number of errors

    Measured: 1.5 and 4 hours after administration

  8. Vigilance

    Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) - number of attention lapses

    Measured: 1.5 and 4 hours after administration

  9. Empathy

    Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET) - emotion recognition accuracy (right answers/wrong answers)

    Measured: 1 hour after administration

  10. Creativity

    Alternate Use Test (AUT) - Fluency and Originality, Flexibility, and Elaboration scores

    Measured: 2.5 hours after administration

  11. Creativity

    Story Writing

    Measured: 2 hours after administration

  12. Autobiographical memory

    Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT)

    Measured: 2.5 hours after administration

  13. Autobiographical memory

    Autobiographical Recollection Test (ART)

    Measured: Study baseline and 1 week after last experimental session

  14. Treatment expectancy

    Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ)

    Measured: Study baseline

  15. Treatment expectancy

    Treatment Expectations in Chronic Pain (TEC)

    Measured: Study baseline

  16. Fibromyalgia-related pain

    • Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)

    Measured: Baseline and 1 week after each experimental session

  17. Personality

    Big Five Inventory (BFI)

    Measured: Baseline and 1 week after last experimental session

  18. Absorption

    Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale (MODTAS)

    Measured: Baseline and 1 week after the experimental session

  19. Interpersonal Reactivity

    Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)

    Measured: Baseline and 1 week after last experimental session

  20. Depression

    • Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II)

    Measured: Baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Apr 2024
  2. Study start3 May 2024
  3. Primary completionDec 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
double-blind, randomized, within-subjects, placebo-controlled design.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
35 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06368492
Sponsor's protocol ID
P137
Other IDs
2021-002909-10, NL78008.068.21
Acronym
PsiloFM
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
31 Oct 2023
Last updated
15 Sep 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Castellanos JP, Woolley C, Bruno KA, Zeidan F, Halberstadt A, Furnish T. Chronic pain and psychedelics: a review and proposed mechanism of action. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2020 Jul;45(7):486-494. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2020-101273. Epub 2020 May 4.

    PubMed 32371500

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Psilocybin and Hypnosis script in people with Fibromyalgia, run by Maastricht University at 2 sites in Netherlands.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Mauro Cavarra, MSc (‭+310683029784‬, fpn-pim_p137@maastrichtuniversity.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Ischemic Pain perception (time frame: 1.5, 2.5 and 4 hours after administration). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06368492, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Sep 2025.

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