A review discusses the potential of LSD and psilocybin for treating persistent pain, especially in terminal illness. These substances act on serotonin receptors and may influence pain processing. Tentative evidence from a systematic review suggests LSD (7 studies, 323 participants) and psilocybin (3 studies, 92 participants) may help with depression and anxiety linked to distress in life-threatening diseases. LSD and psilocybin appear generally safe when administered by a healthcare professional, but more research is needed to assess their utility for persistent pain.
Mindfulness can be a core element of salutogenic approaches to promote health and well-being for people living with chronic pain by rebuilding a fractured sense of coherence. Mindfulness techniques mediate neural processing and neuroplastic changes that alleviate pain, promote self-regulatory activity, regulate emotion, and catalyze health behavior changes. Integrating mindfulness into daily activities and community-based activities may help people live well with or without pain. Future research should examine mindfulness effects in real-life settings, considering social, environmental, and economic factors.