A Rapid Review of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Palliative Care.
Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association April 1, 2025 Megan Miller, Molly Meyers, Annona Martin et al. 3 citations
A rapid review of 34 articles from 2021 to 2024 finds that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is safe and shows initial efficacy for improving psycho-spiritual-existential outcomes in carefully screened patients with serious illness, predominantly cancer. Psilocybin was the most studied compound. Protocols commonly included participant screening, preparation, dosing, and integration. The review highlights current efforts and challenges in integrating PAT into palliative care systems. More research is needed with diverse samples, provider training, care delivery models, and policy solutions. Many patients lack basic psychosocial-spiritual-existential care, so careful integration is essential. The psychedelic substances discussed are not FDA approved.