Mood Effects of Serotonin Agonists: Depression

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · Jun 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how a low dose of LSD, a substance known to affect mood, can help people with major depression. Researchers want to see how this drug impacts feelings of sadness and other mood states compared to a placebo, which is a harmless substance that looks like the drug but has no effect. They will also examine changes in brain activity using EEG, which measures electrical signals in the brain, to better understand how mood symptoms are connected to these changes.

To participate in this study, you need to be between 18 and 65 years old, speak English, and have completed high school. You should also have a body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 30, which is a measure of body weight in relation to height. However, certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or a history of severe mental health issues, may prevent you from joining. If you are eligible and decide to take part, you will receive either the LSD or a placebo and be monitored for how your mood changes over time. This study is not currently recruiting participants, but it aims to offer new insights into treating depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • English Fluency
• • high school education or higher
• • BMI between 19-30 kg/m2
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • individuals with a medical condition contraindicating study participation as determined by the study physician (e.g., liver disease, abnormal EKG, liver or cardiovascular disease)
• • high blood pressure (\>140/90)
• • current suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in past 12 months
• • past year severe substance use disorder
• • personal or first-degree relative with history of psychosis
• • currently taking any psychiatric medication (for conventional antidepressants must be off for ≥ 2 weeks)
• • active panic disorder
• • severe obsessive-compulsive disorder
• • severe post-traumatic stress disorder
• • women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant