What is the PAM Trial Extension Study?
This study is an extension study to a previous larger study which aimed to test whether taking very small (mirco) doses of LSD has effects on psychological wellbeing when combined with a talk therapy called Meaning-Centred Psychotherapy. Please note, the extension study does not involve taking LSD and only involves receiving Meaning-Centred Psychotherapy.
We are a group of scientists and clinicians based at the University of Auckland and the Auckland District Health Board. This study is being done as part of a student’s PhD thesis. This study is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and MindBio Therapeutics Ltd and has been approved by a Health and Disability Ethics Committee (2022 FULL 13074).
Who is running the study?
How is the study designed?
We are aiming to recruit 10 participants across Auckland for this extension study. This study will take up to 15 hours of your time and involve eight visits to our research centre or remotely via teleconference (e.g., Zoom). This includes a screening session and seven sessions of talk therapy.
All participants will receive a talk therapy called meaning-centred psychotherapy.
As a part of this study, we will ask for the following tests to be reported:
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A simple recent blood test to be assessed during the first screening visit. We are aiming to look at simple health markers (e.g., liver function) so that we can confirm it would be safe for you to participate in this research. No further blood testing will be required across the duration of the study.
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We will also ask you to complete some psychological questionnaires.
What will my participation involve?
As mentioned above, this study will take up to 15 hours of your time and involve eight meetings with a researcher and study therapist. These meetings can be completed in person at our clinical research centre or online via Zoom. We describe these meetings below and have added a table at the bottom of this section to help you understand the timing of the visits and what happens at each visit.
You are welcome to bring a family/whānau member or other support person to any clinic visit.
Initial screening visit: On the first day, you will either come to our centre or meet with us via Zoom and we will confirm your eligibility to take part in the study. This session will take approximately 1.5 hours. We will ask you questions about your cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as other aspects of your physical and mental health. We will ask for a record of a recent blood test to assess your physical health (liver and kidney function).
You are encouraged to consult with your whānau, hapū or iwi regarding participation in this project. If you are eligible and decide to take part, we will schedule your treatment sessions.
Confirmation of enrolment: Once we have completed the screening session, we will contact you to confirm your enrolment and your next session time.
Treatment session 1: You will complete some questionnaires and a brief intake interview. You will then take part in an hour-long session of meaning-centred psychotherapy with a registered psychologist. Finally, we will conduct a short discharge interview before you leave for the day. The length of this first treatment session will be approximately 2 hours.
If you require assistance to attend the clinical research centre, we can arrange a taxi for you.
Treatment sessions 2-7: You will attend weekly sessions for the next 6 weeks for meaning-centred psychotherapy either online or in-person. These visits will last approximately 1.5 hours including the time taken to complete some questionnaires. The last visit will be 43 days after your first session.
Follow-up phone calls: One month and six months following the treatment session's completion, we will ring you for a phone follow-up to check on your health. This call will take approximately 30 minutes. We will also ask you to complete some questionnaires and ask you some questions about your experience in the study.
More details on your involvement are provided below.
