Palliative care provider attitudes toward existential distress and treatment with psychedelic-assisted therapies
BMC Palliative Care December 26, 2021 Halsey Niles, Colleen Fogg, Ben Kelmendi et al.
Palliative care clinicians view existential distress as a common and often inadequately treated psychosocial-spiritual problem that resists purely medical approaches. They see psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT) as a potentially powerful tool for refractory existential distress but believe a stronger evidence base is needed. Because PAT do not fit existing treatment models, barriers remain, including stigma and limited education about their medical use. Larger clinical trials and educational outreach are needed to clarify treatment targets and address safety concerns, and integration into palliative care should emphasize collaboration with spiritual care and mental health providers while addressing equitable access.