Current Oncology
June 30, 2025
Haley D M Schuman, Chantal Savard, Raèf Mina et al.
9 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 placebo-controlled randomized trials and 4 open-label studies found that psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin or ketamine can reduce depression and anxiety in adults with cancer. Meta-analysis of four ketamine trials (354 participants) showed a large, rapid effect on depression and anxiety. Three psilocybin trials (101 participants) also showed a large effect on depression, though with wide variability. Non-randomized studies of MDMA and LSD suggested promise but were less rigorous. The authors conclude that psychedelic-assisted therapy may offer meaningful relief for cancer-related distress, but effects vary by therapeutic model and context, and more oncology-specific trials are needed.
Integrative cancer therapies
January 1, 2025
Haley D M Schuman, Sofia Barkova, Raèf Mina et al.
2 citations
People with cancer often experience deep existential distress that standard psychosocial care does not adequately address. In this qualitative study, 15 participants with various cancer types and stages shared their views on psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a possible way to relieve psychosocial suffering, especially existential and emotional distress. Four main themes emerged: cautious optimism and differing attitudes toward specific psychedelics; the influence of relationships, stigma, and cultural framing; structural barriers like cost, legality, and unequal access; and the cancer context itself, where unmet needs for existential and spiritual support are common, particularly after active treatment or at advanced stages. Participants saw PAT as a potential adjunct to conventional care but raised concerns about safety, access, and stigma, highlighting the need for equitable, patient-informed implementation.
Global advances in integrative medicine and health
January 1, 2026
Haley D M Schuman, Raèf Mina, Sofia Barkova et al.
Healthcare providers in Canada hold cautious to supportive views on psychedelic-assisted therapy, with ketamine pragmatically accepted for its rapid effects but raising concerns about commercialization, psilocybin seen as promising for end-of-life existential distress yet viewed with mixed feelings, and MDMA considered useful for trauma but constrained by neurotoxicity worries and regulatory barriers. An ethical tension emerged between access to medical assistance in dying and restrictions on psychedelic-assisted therapy in end-of-life care, highlighting policy inconsistencies. Providers emphasized the need for substance-specific guidelines, interdisciplinary education, and evidence-informed regulatory reform.