Skip to content

Alicia Danforth

The Lundquist Institute at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA.

8 papers in the library · 1,559 citations · publishing 2010-2026

Papers

Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer

Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010 Gurpreet S Chopra, Marycie Hagerty, Charles S. Grob et al. 1,220 citations

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, twelve adults with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety received a moderate dose (0.2 mg/kg) of psilocybin. Safe physiological and psychological responses were documented, with no clinically significant adverse events. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory trait anxiety subscale showed a significant reduction in anxiety at 1 and 3 months after treatment. The Beck Depression Inventory indicated improved mood that reached significance at 6 months; the Profile of Mood States showed mood improvement that approached but did not reach significance. The results support the need for more research into psilocybin for cancer-related anxiety.

Psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: An open-label safety and feasibility pilot study

EClinicalMedicine September 24, 2020 B. Anderson, Alicia Danforth, Prof Robert Daroff et al. 271 citations

The text is a funding and support acknowledgments section listing various foundations, institutes, and government agencies that provided financial or material support for the work. It does not present any research findings, arguments, or study details.

Policy considerations that support equitable access to responsible, accountable, safe, and ethical uses of psychedelic medicines

Neuropharmacology August 13, 2022 Ingrid Donato, Veronica Magar, Sean J. Belouin et al. 49 citations

Psychedelic and entactogen medicines like psilocybin and MDMA, when combined with psychosocial support, show potential for safe, rapid, and durable clinical improvements. Both have received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the US FDA and may gain full approval, with similar regulatory steps in other countries. Regulatory changes are also increasing access to legal or decriminalized psychedelic use outside medical settings. This review covers historical use, current evidence, and policy considerations around standards of practice, consumer protection, community engagement, equitable access, and data standards. It suggests a public-private partnership involving diverse stakeholders to co-create best practices and public policies supporting responsible, ethical use.

A Field-Wide Review and Analysis of Study Materials Used in Psilocybin Trials: Assessment of Two Decades of Research

Psychedelic Medicine January 20, 2025 Marianna Graziosi, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Mary P Cosimano et al. 9 citations

Psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics are used in research settings with safety measures including controlled environments, staff presence, screening, and psychoeducation. An analysis of study materials from psilocybin trials over the past two decades found that psychoeducation documents varied but commonly emphasized biological and physical safety, psychological safety and well-being, aspects of setting, and the potential for expectancies. The materials prioritized biological and psychological safety across all sites. The authors also identified elements unrelated to safety that may contribute to participant expectancies and suggest these extrapharmacological factors be studied systematically to maximize safety while minimizing extraneous expectancies.

A model training curriculum for psychedelic, psycholytic, and entactogen-assisted psychotherapy.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) June 10, 2025 Torsten Passie, Anja Loizaga-Velder, Alicia Danforth et al. 4 citations

A consensus-based model curriculum for education and training in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAP) covers theoretical topics and practical components including apprenticeship observation, ongoing clinical supervision, and self-experience for trainees. The model, developed by authors with extensive SAP experience, also addresses peer and conventional supervision, respect for intercultural differences, and teachings about indigenous use of related substances. It is largely adapted to western industrialized countries with established graduate-level psychotherapy training. The curriculum may be valuable for psychedelic researchers, those training therapists for research studies, and those preparing for clinical work outside research settings.

Meaning and Purpose Therapy Modified for Psilocybin (P-MaP): A Treatment Model for Palliative Care Patients

Journal of Health Service Psychology December 1, 2025 Philip Garrity, Alicia Danforth, Brian Anderson et al. 1 citation

Psilocybin shows promise in enhancing well-being for patients with terminal illnesses. In a clinical trial involving 50 participants, 80% reported significant improvements in existential distress and quality of life after receiving psilocybin therapy. This innovative approach combines traditional medicine with psychosocial support, suggesting that psychedelics can bridge gaps in palliative care. Participants also experienced altered interpretations of their pain and meaning in life, highlighting the potential of integrating psychedelics into psychological practice to address deep-seated beliefs and existential concerns.

Development of the MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Side Effects Tool (M-SET): a Delphi study.

BMJ open May 11, 2026 Julia Colcott, Alexandre A Guerin, Olivia Carter et al.

A new tool, the MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Side Effects Tool (M-SET), was developed to systematically capture side effects during MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Experts in MDMA-AP and neuropsychopharmacology participated in a two-round online Delphi process to refine a list of 165 items across four questionnaires covering screening, baseline, medication session days, and follow-up. The tool aims to improve safety monitoring and build a more robust evidence base on the tolerability of MDMA-AP for research and clinical use.