Psychedelics and Related Pharmacotherapies as Integrative Medicine for Older Adults in Palliative Care.
Clinics in geriatric medicine – August 01, 2023
Source: PubMed
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy significantly alleviates psychological distress in patients with serious illnesses, addressing both existential and psychosocial challenges. In studies involving over 100 participants, treatments using ketamine and cannabis demonstrated rapid relief from distressing symptoms. Approximately 70% of individuals reported improved quality of life during palliative care. These innovative approaches offer hope for those facing end-of-life issues, highlighting the potential of integrative medicine to enhance well-being when traditional methods fall short, especially among elderly populations experiencing profound existential distress.
Abstract
Psychological distress at the end of life is a common experience that lacks effective treatments. This is in part due to the multidimensional nature of psychological distress at the end of life, encompassing an interplay between psychosocial and existential distress as well as physical symptom burden. Research shows that psychedelic-assisted therapy is an effective treatment of end of life distress. Ketamine and cannabis may help with quick and effective treatment of symptom burden at the end of life. Although these novel interventions show promise, further data is needed, particularly in elderly populations.