Lysergic Acid Diethylamide and Psilocybin for the Management of Patients with Persistent Pain: a Potential Role?
Pain Management – May 01, 2018
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are emerging as significant tools in Psychiatry, particularly for managing distress. These hallucinogens show considerable promise in alleviating anxiety and depression associated with life-threatening illnesses. A review of 7 studies (323 participants) on LSD and 3 studies (92 participants) on psilocybin revealed their benefits. Administered professionally, these substances are generally safe. Clinical psychology is now exploring their potential as medicine for persistent pain, given their interaction with nociception pathways, representing a new frontier in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Recently, there has been interest in lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin for depression, anxiety and fear of death in terminal illness. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential use of LSD and psilocybin for patients with persistent pain. LSD and psilocybin are 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists and may interact with nociceptive and antinociceptive processing. Tentative evidence from a systematic review suggests that LSD (7 studies, 323 participants) and psilocybin (3 studies, 92 participants) may be beneficial for depression and anxiety associated with distress in life-threatening diseases. LSD and psilocybin are generally safe if administered by a healthcare professional, although further investigations are needed to assess their utility for patients with persistent pain, especially associated with terminal illness.