Journal of palliative medicine
August 1, 2022
William E Rosa, Zachary Sager, Megan Miller et al.
49 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a promising treatment for conditions like treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorder, and PTSD. In palliative care, a single PAT session can produce lasting reductions in anxiety, depression, and demoralization—symptoms that harm quality of life for seriously ill and end-of-life patients. Although interest in psychedelics has revived, few resources exist for applying PAT in hospice and palliative care. This article provides 10 evidence-informed tips for palliative care clinicians, developed with international experts, to help familiarize teams with PAT, address legal and logistical barriers, discuss therapeutic competencies, and highlight approaches to maximize safety and benefits for patients and caregivers.
JAMA Network Open
December 5, 2024
Anthony L Back, Timara K Freeman-Young, Ladybird Morgan et al.
37 citations
A double-blind randomized trial tested psilocybin therapy against niacin in 30 US clinicians (physicians, advanced practice practitioners, and nurses) who developed depression, burnout, or PTSD from frontline COVID-19 pandemic work. Participants had no prepandemic mental health diagnoses but had moderate or severe depression at enrollment. After one medication session, depression symptoms (measured by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) improved significantly more with psilocybin (mean decrease of 21.33 points) than with niacin (mean decrease of 9.33 points), a difference of 12.00 points. Burnout and PTSD symptoms showed numerically larger improvements with psilocybin, but these differences were not statistically significant. The findings suggest psilocybin therapy can reduce depression in this postpandemic condition.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Alexa E Albert, Anthony L Back
5 citations
Pathological narcissism is a complex, treatment-resistant disorder involving unstable self-esteem that swings between grandiosity and vulnerability, making a stable self-image difficult to maintain. Few empirically supported therapies exist, and long-term psychoanalytic approaches often have high dropout rates. Recent research suggests combining psychedelics like MDMA with psychoanalytic therapy may offer a novel treatment. MDMA enhances empathy, trust, and social bonding, and can reopen critical periods for social learning in adults. It promotes psychological flexibility and openness, strengthening the observing ego—key for recognizing and changing maladaptive patterns.