Anxiety research in psychedelic medicine spans several distinct populations: existential and end-of-life distress in people with life-threatening illness, social anxiety in autistic adults, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psilocybin dominates the end-of-life work while MDMA leads social anxiety research. This page lists every anxiety-related trial PoliPsy tracks.
| Trial | Drug | Phase | Status | Sponsor | Conditions | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin for Treatment of OCD-2 | Psilocybin | Phase 1 / Phase 2 | Not Yet Recruiting | Francisco A Moreno | Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Intergenerational Trauma | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Recruiting | Rachel Yehuda | Psychological Stress, Depression, Anxiety | Aug 28, 2026 |
| A Mechanistic Study to Assess a Single Dose of CYB003 in Participants With Depression and Anxiety | Multiple | Phase 2 | Recruiting | Ohio State University | Depression, Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder | Aug 1, 2026 |
| Group Retreat Psilocybin Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors or Incurable Hematologic Malignancies | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Active Not Recruiting | University of Washington | Anxiety, Depression, Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm | May 19, 2026 |
| Psilocybin Whole Mushroom for the Treatment of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Recruiting | Francisco A Moreno | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | May 18, 2026 |
| MDMA-Assisted CBT for OCD (MDMA-CBT4OCD Study) | MDMA | Phase 2 | Recruiting | Carolyn Rodriguez | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Sep 10, 2025 |
| TRIPS - Treatment to Improve Depression and/or Anxiety Using Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy in Cancer Survivors | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Recruiting | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Depression, Anxiety, Cancer | May 23, 2025 |
| A Phase 3 Trial of MM120 for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Panorama) | LSD | Phase 3 | Active Not Recruiting | Definium Therapeutics US, Inc. | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Jan 29, 2025 |
| Pragmatic Trial of Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Recruiting | Charles S. Grob, M.D. | Demoralization | Jan 19, 2025 |
| Computer Game, Qualitative, and MEG/EEG Assessment of Serotonergic Psychedelics | Multiple | N/A | Terminated | Yale University | OCD, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Healthy Volunteer, Migraine, PTSD, PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Addiction, Tobacco Use Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Opioid Use Disorder | Dec 12, 2024 |
| A Phase 3 Trial of MM120 for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Voyage) | Psilocybin | Phase 3 | Active Not Recruiting | Definium Therapeutics US, Inc. | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Dec 11, 2024 |
| A Second Psilocybin Group Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Anxiety in Partial Responders With Metastatic Cancer | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Completed | University of Washington | Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm | Nov 19, 2024 |
| Open-Label Psilocybin Study in Transdiagnostic Population | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Recruiting | Yale University | Transdiagnostic, Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety, PTSD Symptoms, PTSD, Substance Use, Substance Use Disorder (SUD), OCD | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Ketamine-assisted Therapy for Advanced GI Cancer | Psilocybin | Phase 4 | Terminated | Brian Anderson, MD | Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Pain, Acute, Gastrointestinal Cancers, Demoralization | May 17, 2024 |
| A Study of a N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Analog (CYB004) in Participants With Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) | Multiple | Phase 2 | Completed | Cybin IRL Limited | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | May 10, 2024 |
| Mindful Self-Compassion to Address PTSD and Substance Use in Unhoused Women | Psilocybin | N/A | Completed | University of California, Los Angeles | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Depression - Major Depressive Disorder | May 5, 2024 |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Patients With Advanced Cancer on Maintenance Therapy | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Recruiting | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Depression, Anxiety, Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy, Advanced Cancer | Apr 16, 2024 |
| Exploratory Study of Low Dose Psilocybin | Psilocybin | Early Phase 1 | Withdrawn | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Demoralization | Aug 15, 2023 |
| Effects of Repeated Psilocybin Dosing in OCD | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Active Not Recruiting | Yale University | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Jul 20, 2023 |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Anxiety in Patients With Metastatic Cancer | Psilocybin | Phase 1 / Phase 2 | Completed | University of Washington | Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm | Jun 27, 2023 |
| Effects of Psilocybin in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Psilocybin | Early Phase 1 | Active Not Recruiting | Johns Hopkins University | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Nov 28, 2022 |
| Psilocybin Combined With Multidisciplinary Palliative Care in Demoralized Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Completed | Emory University | Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm, Malignant Solid Neoplasm | Nov 1, 2022 |
| A Dose-Finding Study of MM120 (LSD D-Tartrate) for the Treatment of Anxiety Symptoms | LSD | Phase 2 | Completed | Definium Therapeutics US, Inc. | Anxiety Generalized | Aug 24, 2022 |
| Social Anxiety MDMA-Assisted Therapy Investigation | MDMA | Phase 2 | Completed | Jason B Luoma | Social Anxiety Disorder | Apr 13, 2022 |
| Pilot Study of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Demoralization in Patients Receiving Hospice Care | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Completed | Yvan Beaussant, MD, MSci | Hospice, Psilocybin, Demoralization, Terminal Illness, Cancer-related Problem/Condition, Psychotherapy, Terminal Cancer, Cancer Terminal | Mar 9, 2022 |
| Psilocybin Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Completed | Joshua Woolley, MD, PhD | Parkinson Disease, Depression, Anxiety | Aug 15, 2021 |
| A Retrospective Effectiveness Trial of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Adult Patients Coping With Mental Health | Psilocybin | Phase 4 | Completed | Field Trip Health | Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Mar 13, 2020 |
| Psilocybin for Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Completed | University of Arizona | Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Jan 2, 2019 |
| Efficacy of Psilocybin in OCD: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Completed | Yale University | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Nov 13, 2018 |
| Project PRIDE (Promoting Resilience In Discriminatory Environments) | Psilocybin | N/A | Completed | University of Houston | Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Anxiety, Depression, Substance Use Disorders | Nov 9, 2018 |
| Psilocybin-assisted Group Therapy for Demoralization in Long-term AIDS Survivors | Psilocybin | Phase 1 | Completed | Joshua Woolley | Distress, Depression, Grief | Jan 5, 2018 |
| Correlates of Anxiety Associated With a Life-threatening Illness | MDMA | N/A | Completed | Resilient Pharmaceuticals | Anxiety | Nov 7, 2015 |
| MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With a Life-Threatening Illness | MDMA | Phase 2 | Completed | Resilient Pharmaceuticals | Anxiety | May 14, 2015 |
| Phase 2 Pilot Safety Study of MDMA-assisted Therapy for Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults | MDMA | Phase 2 | Completed | Resilient Pharmaceuticals | Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults | Apr 11, 2014 |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety in People With Stage IV Melanoma | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Withdrawn | Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies | Anxiety, Stage IV Melanoma | Jan 1, 2012 |
| Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study | Multiple | Early Phase 1 | Completed | NYU Langone Health | Cancer | Feb 1, 2009 |
| Psychopharmacology of Psilocybin in Cancer Patients | Psilocybin | Phase 2 | Completed | Johns Hopkins University | Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, Cancer | Apr 1, 2007 |
| MDMA-assisted Therapy in People With Anxiety Related to Advanced Stage Cancer | MDMA | Phase 2 | Terminated | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Anxiety Disorder, Cancer | Feb 1, 2007 |
| Effects of Psilocybin in Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients With Anxiety | Psilocybin | Phase 1 / Phase 2 | Completed | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center | Anxiety | Apr 1, 2004 |
Psychedelic Clinical Trials for Depression · Psychedelic Clinical Trials for PTSD · Psychedelic Clinical Trials for Addiction · All psychedelic clinical trials
Research covers end-of-life and existential distress in cancer patients, social anxiety in autistic adults, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Yes. Some of the earliest modern psychedelic trials examined psilocybin for anxiety and depression in people with life-threatening cancer, and follow-up studies continue in palliative settings.
MDMA-assisted therapy has been evaluated for social anxiety in autistic adults in early-phase research, alongside its larger PTSD program.
No. Classic psychedelics remain Schedule I federally and are not approved for any anxiety indication. Access is limited to authorized research or state-regulated programs.
Each listing links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record with eligibility criteria and study-site contacts. Enrollment decisions rest entirely with the research team.