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
June 3, 2024
Amy L McGuire, I Glenn Cohen, Dominic Sisti et al.
41 citations
A consensus statement from a 2023 meeting of 27 experts identifies 20 points of consensus across five ethical issues for integrating psychedelic medicines into mainstream medical practice: reparations and reciprocity, equity, and respect; informed consent; professional boundaries and physical touch; personal experience; and gatekeeping. The meeting included clinicians, researchers, Indigenous groups, industry, philanthropy, veterans, retreat facilitators, training programs, and bioethicists. The statement focuses on government-approved medical use in the US and abroad, emphasizing that policymakers must address challenges ahead while acknowledging the hopeful moment.
Scientific reports
July 11, 2026
Monnica T Williams, Sonya C Faber, Jordan Sloshower et al.
A small preliminary study of five diverse individuals found that MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduced trauma symptoms related to discrimination. Scores on the Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale dropped by an average of 38% after treatment, a large effect. All participants, who had experienced multiple forms of discrimination including gender, racial, and sexual orientation bias, reported marked improvement. The results suggest MDMA-assisted therapy may help alleviate discrimination-related trauma in marginalized populations, though the small sample size calls for cautious interpretation and further research with larger, more diverse groups.