Palliative & Supportive Care
November 3, 2022
Lisa Reynolds, Brian S. Barnett, Jeremy Weleff et al.
19 citations
Cancer health-care practitioners in New Zealand and the USA perceive psychedelic-assisted therapy as potentially beneficial for cancer patients, especially those with advanced disease no longer receiving curative treatment. They consider research in this area important and express willingness to refer patients to trials, though they emphasize that work should incorporate spiritual and indigenous perspectives of health. US practitioners had greater awareness of psychedelics, while New Zealand practitioners more strongly believed that spiritual and indigenous factors should be considered. The findings suggest that practitioners may be more open to studies beginning in palliative and end-of-life contexts.
Pilot and feasibility studies
February 12, 2024
Alesha Wells, A P Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Eva Morunga et al.
10 citations
A proposed trial will test whether adding a low, non-hallucinogenic dose of LSD to meaning-centred psychotherapy (MCP) is feasible for advanced cancer patients with anxiety or depression. Forty participants (20 Māori, 20 non-Māori) will receive seven MCP sessions plus either an LSD microdose (4-20 µg) or a placebo, under double-blind conditions. Outcomes include feasibility, acceptability, safety, and psychological measures at baseline, during treatment, and at one- and six-month follow-ups. The study aims to determine whether a full-scale trial is possible and to provide initial evidence on whether microdosing may enhance psychological care in this population.
Trials
May 21, 2024
Chiranth Bhagavan, Paul Glue, Will Evans et al.
7 citations
A clinical trial will test whether MDMA-assisted therapy can reduce anxiety and depression in people with advanced-stage cancer. Up to 32 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 120 mg of MDMA (with an optional 60 mg supplement) or a low dose of methylphenidate as a psychoactive control, each combined with therapeutic support sessions. The study will track mood, anxiety, quality of life, and other measures for up to 12 months. This research aims to establish the safety and effectiveness of a novel treatment for mental suffering in patients with life-threatening illness.
The New Zealand medical journal
March 14, 2025
Carly Hanna, Eva Morunga, Alesha Wells et al.
2 citations
Māori healthcare professionals generally support research into psychedelic-assisted therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand, but emphasize the need for cultural safety and equitable access. Interviews with 13 Māori healthcare professionals revealed four key themes: greater awareness leads to more openness toward psychedelic-assisted therapy; more research and education are needed; the therapy has potential to align with Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview); and equitable access is critical for Māori. The study used Māori health models Te Whare Tapa Whā and Te Wheke as frameworks. Improving awareness of this novel treatment is likely to influence its acceptability and cultural safety for Māori.