JAMA Oncology
April 13, 2023
Manish Agrawal, Ezekiel Emanuel, Brian D. Richards et al.
48 citations
In a nonrandomized controlled trial, psilocybin was administered to groups of patients with cancer who also had major depressive disorder, using a one-to-one therapist-to-patient ratio. The aim was to develop a scalable, rapidly effective depression treatment. The trial suggests that this approach may offer a feasible model for delivering psilocybin therapy to larger numbers of patients while maintaining therapeutic support.
Cancer
June 15, 2025
Manish Agrawal, Kim Roddy, Betsy Jenkins et al.
4 citations
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin combined with psychotherapy provided long-term relief from depression and anxiety in patients with cancer. Two years after treatment, over half of the 28 patients showed significant reduction in depression, with an average 15-point drop on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and half maintained that improvement. Nearly half also experienced significant anxiety reduction, averaging a 13.9-point decrease on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, with 43% sustaining the benefit. The findings indicate a potentially paradigm-changing alternative to standard antidepressants for this population.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 1, 2026
Yvan Beaussant, Candace Oglesby, Kim Roddy et al.
BIPOC therapists see both opportunities and barriers to engaging in psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT). Opportunities include increasing diversity in the field, fostering safety and trust for clients of color, and providing culturally attuned care for trauma rooted in systemic oppression. Barriers include financial and geographic inaccessibility of training, exclusionary training environments, stigma around psychedelics, and the extractive nature of current Western therapeutic models. Participants recommended culturally responsive training, mentorship, financial support, and community education. Most participants were African American/Black, which may limit transferability. The work highlights the need for intentional efforts to create equitable, culturally informed care.