Expectations and Motivations for Participation in Clinical Trials Utilizing Psychedelics for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Qualitative Study.
Brain and behavior June 1, 2026 Christopher Poppe, Liisa Lyck, Laura Bechtold et al. 1 citation
In people with treatment-resistant depression entering psychedelic clinical trials, motivations and expectations are complex and may shift over time. Interviews with 17 participants before screening for 5-MeO-DMT or psilocybin trials revealed two main themes: motivations (hope, demoralization, prior psychedelic experience, social reasons) and expectations (anticipated symptom reduction, perceived mechanisms of change, role of setting, and retrospective expectations). Many viewed trial participation as a last resort after chronic illness and failed treatments. In two cases, initially cautious expectations were later reinterpreted as stronger after participation. These findings suggest that expectancy should be systematically addressed in trial design, informed consent, and interpretation of outcomes.