Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
September 11, 2024
Sivan Schipper, Kabir Nigam, Yasmin Schmid et al.
34 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapy using psilocybin or LSD may help treat anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases, and appears well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported in reviewed studies. However, the evidence is low to very low certainty, meaning results are uncertain and could change with future research. As of 2024, these drugs remain illegal in many countries. Blinding issues and small sample sizes limit confidence; more rigorous studies with active placebos and larger samples are needed. Research is restricted in the US due to Schedule I classification but is increasing.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
November 21, 2022
Sivan Schipper, Kabir Nigam, Vanessa Piechotta et al.
4 citations
This Cochrane protocol outlines a planned review to evaluate whether psychedelic- or entactogen-assisted therapy is beneficial and safe for adults in palliative care who suffer from anxiety, depression, or existential distress. The review will compare such therapy against placebo or active treatments like antidepressants. The protocol describes the methods for searching and analyzing studies, but no results are reported yet.
Psychiatric Annals
September 1, 2022
Michael Ljuslin, Kabir Nigam, Roxanne Sholevar et al.
4 citations
Anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, and existential distress in seriously ill people often resist existing medical or behavioral interventions. A growing body of evidence suggests the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) to improve these outcomes. As societal norms around the stigma of psychedelic agents shift, interest in integrating these treatment modalities into serious illness care increases. This article describes aspects of serious illness care that might be amenable to PATs, reviews evidence documenting the safety and efficacy of PATs in serious illness care, and highlights opportunities and challenges moving forward.
Healthcare (Basel)
September 12, 2025
Anna Schuldt, Ian C. Clark, Yasmin Schmid et al.
1 citation
Experts in palliative care, oncology, psychiatry, and psychedelic-assisted therapy identified special considerations for using psychedelics near the end of life. They emphasized a non-medicalized setting, the potential to reduce preparation time, and the importance of addressing anxiety, depression, and spiritual distress. Dosing flexibility was recommended: low-to-medium doses for relational issues, higher doses for transcendental experiences. Therapists need knowledge of mystical states, existential aspects of life-threatening illness, and their own inner work. The findings provide a first step toward specific treatment recommendations for psychedelic-assisted therapy in palliative care.