Psilocybin for Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder: An Open-Label Feasibility Study Protocol
Psychoactives April 13, 2026 J. Morgan Penberthy, Fatma Wise, Nicholas P. Cherup et al.
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) affects about 10% of bereaved individuals and often does not respond well to traditional therapies. This manuscript describes the protocol for an early-stage open-label feasibility trial testing psilocybin as a treatment for PGD in 20 adults, with a focus on young adults. Participants receive a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin within a structured therapeutic process that includes preparation and integration sessions. The main aims are to assess safety, feasibility, and acceptability. Outcome measures include changes in PGD and trauma symptoms, cognitive flexibility, openness to experience, meaning in life, and subjective experiences. Functional MRIs are collected pre- and post-dosing during a standardized grief-elicitation task to evaluate neural activity.