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Home/Research/Placebo/Older Adults

Placebo for Older Adults

2 papers and 7 clinical trials exploring placebo as a treatment for older adults.

CompoundComparator / Control

Placebo

Placebo is the most widely referenced comparator in psychedelic clinical research, appearing in over 500 trials. Understanding how placebos are designed, administered, and interpreted is essential to evaluating the evidence base for psychedelic-assisted therapies — and one of the field’s most contested methodological challenges.

Full Placebo profile
IndicationApproximately 300 million adults worldwide struggle with depression, many of whom are older adults.

Older Adults

Psychedelic research involving older adults is gaining traction, highlighting the potential therapeutic benefits of compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA. Recent studies suggest promising safety profiles and efficacy, paving the way for future clinical applications in this demographic.

Full Older Adults profile

Academic Research

2 papers
Paywallindividual

Single Treatment With MM120 (Lysergide) in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

In a multicentre phase 2b randomised placebo‑controlled trial of 198 adults with moderate to severe GAD, a single dose of MM120 (lysergide D‑tartrate) produced a dose‑dependent reduction in HAM‑A scores at 4 weeks, with 100 µg and 200 µg showing significant improvements versus placebo (least‑squares mean differences −5.0 and −6.0 points, respectively). Adverse events were dose‑related—most commonly visual perceptual changes and nausea—supporting the efficacy and informing dose selection for phase 3 trials.

Published
October 21, 2025
Journal
JAMA
Authors
Robison, R., Barrow, R., Conant, C., Foster, E., Freedman, J. M., Jacobsen, P. L., Karas, S. M., Karlin, D. R., Solomon, T. M., Wernli, M. H., Fava, M. F., Jemisen, J.
Open Accessindividual

Nitrous oxide as an adjunctive therapy in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled double-blind pilot trial

This double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects study (n=23) tested the antidepressant efficacy of inhaled nitrous oxide (50% N2O|50% O2 versus 100% O2) in patients diagnosed with major depression (MDD). Across multiple treatment sessions administered across a period of 4 weeks, there were significant reductions in depressive symptoms in the acute response to treatment and accumulatively across sessions.

Published
September 1, 2021
Journal
brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
Authors
Guimarães, M. C., Guimarães, T. M., Hallak, J. E., Abrão, J., Machado-de-Sousa, J. P.

Clinical Trials

7 trials
RecruitingPhase NA

Effect of Low-dose Esketamine on Delirium in High-risk Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery (ELEMENT)

Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial (n=1670) testing low-dose intraoperative and postoperative esketamine versus placebo to prevent postoperative delirium in high-risk elderly patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery.

Started
February 1, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06817239
WithdrawnPhase IV

Preoperative Ketamine and Perioperative Depression

Randomised, double‑blind, parallel pilot study (n=40 planned) comparing a single preoperative IV ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg over 40 min) versus midazolam (0.045 mg/kg) to improve perioperative depressive symptoms in surgical patients with a history of MDD.

Started
January 3, 2021
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT04220125
CompletedPhase NA

Effect of Ketamine in Depressive Symptoms of Elderly Patients With Visual Impairment

Randomised, double-blind, parallel trial (n=90) testing a single 0.5 mg/kg IV ketamine infusion over 2 hours versus saline in patients aged ≥60 undergoing ophthalmologic surgery to assess depressive symptoms.

Started
April 15, 2018
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT03473431
CompletedPhase III

Ketamine for Treatment Resistant Late-Life Depression

Randomized, quadruple-masked Bayesian adaptive dose-finding trial in 33 veterans with late-life treatment-resistant depression, comparing single-infusion IV ketamine 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg with active-control midazolam 0.03 mg/kg.

Started
October 1, 2015
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT02556606
CompletedPhase III

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Intranasal Esketamine Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Elderly Participants With Treatment-resistant Depression (TRANSFORM-3)

Randomized, double-blind, active-controlled Phase III study (n=139) in elderly participants with TRD testing intranasal esketamine (flexible 28–84 mg, twice weekly for 4 weeks) plus a new oral antidepressant versus intranasal placebo plus a new oral antidepressant.

Started
August 20, 2015
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT02422186
CompletedPhase I

A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate Very Low Dose LSD in Healthy Volunteers Aged 55-75 Years

Phase I double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study (n=48) of very low-dose LSD (5, 10, 20 µg) or placebo given six times over 21 days in healthy volunteers aged 55–75.

Started
June 29, 2015
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT04421105

Explore further

Search all Placebo papers Search all Older Adults trials Full Placebo profile Full Older Adults profile