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Investigating Psychedelic Effects of Psychoactive Substances

This study aims to understand if certain psychoactive substances can create experiences similar to classic psychedelics. Researchers will test psilocybin, ketamine, dextromethorphan (DXM), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), comparing them to an inactive placebo. You might be able to join if you are a healthy volunteer between 25 and 55 years old, with a BMI between 18 and 34 kg/m2. The study will measure "mystical experiences" using a questionnaire at Week 2 and Week 7. The study is currently unclear about its recruitment status and plans to enroll 50 participants.

Study design
This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 50 healthy volunteers. Both participants and study staff will not know which substance is being given on any particular day.
What's involved
You would undergo a medical and psychiatric screening, including blood tests and interviews. If eligible, you would complete up to 6 experimental drug administration sessions.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your experiences will be measured at Week 2 and Week 7 after the drug administration.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06772753

Investigation of Psychedelic Effects in Psychoactive Substances

Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 25–55InterventionalBasic science
Johns Hopkins University
~50 participants
Updated 2026-02-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:PlaceboPsilocybinKetamineDextromethorphan (DXM)Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30)
Measured over Week 2, Week 7

Conditions

Psychedelic Effects in Healthy Volunteers

Explore related trials

Healthy Volunteers

NCT06772753

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research

    Baltimore, Marylandstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Frederick Barrett, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins University

Who to contact

Zach Daily
[email protected]
410-550-9777
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Be 25 to 55 years old
BMI between 18 and 34 kg/m2
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 subject does not usually consume caffeinated beverages, he or 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. Exceptions include daily use of caffeine and nicotine.
Be healthy and psychologically 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 not to take any PRN prescription medications on the mornings of the sessions unless deemed appropriate by study team.

Exclusion

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 who are not practicing an effective means of birth control (e.g. oral contraceptives, intrauterine device)
Cardiovascular conditions-coronary artery disease, stroke, angina, uncontrolled hypertension, a clinically significant ECG abnormality (e.g., atrial fibrillation), or transient ischemic attack-that in the clinical opinion of the screening physician or mid-level provider would put the participant at an especially high risk for adverse effects from the study.
Epilepsy with history of seizures
Insulin-dependent diabetes; if taking oral hypoglycemic agent, then no history of hypoglycemia
Currently taking on a regular (e.g., daily) basis any medications having a primary centrally acting pharmacological effect on serotonin neurons or medications that are Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. For individuals who have intermittent or as needed (PRN) use of such medications, sessions will not be conducted until at least 5 half-lives of the agent have elapsed after the last dose.
Use of nonprescription medications, nutritional supplements, or herbal supplements 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
History of meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder (including alcohol use disorder, but excluding tobacco), requiring that at least one of the endorsed criteria relates to prior loss of control of substance use (e.g. consuming the substance in larger amounts and for a longer amount of time than intended; persistent desire to cut down or regulate use; unsuccessful attempts to stop use; spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of substance use).
Active suicidal ideation and/or behavior at time of screening.
Psychiatric disorder that in the clinical opinion of the study team would put the participant at an especially high risk for adverse effects from the study.
First-degree relative who meets DSM-5 criteria for a Schizophrenia Spectrum or Other Psychotic Disorder (unless disorder is Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder or Psychotic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition), Bipolar I Disorder, or Bipolar II disorder.
Enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days prior to dosing.
Known allergy or prior adverse reaction to any of the study drugs judged by the investigator and/or medical staff to put the study volunteer at greater risk.
Known allergy or intolerance to nitroglycerin.
Concomitant use of any CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 inhibitors.

What this trial measures

  • Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30)Week 2, Week 7

    The MEQ is a 30-item self-report instrument intended to assess psychedelic-specific acute subjective effects of psychoactive drugs. At the end of each experimental session, participants will be instructed to rate each of the items of the MEQ relative to the experiences that the participant encountered during the course of the drug administration session. The total score on all items is then calculated as the primary outcome measure for each experimental session. Scores range from 0 to 150 on this measure with higher scores reflecting more mystical experience