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.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
January 1, 2024
Lisa Bouchet, Zachary Sager, Antoine Yrondi et al.
22 citations
Older adults (65+) account for less than 1.4% of participants in psychedelic clinical trials, despite these compounds showing potential for conditions common in this age group, such as depression, anxiety, and existential distress. A systematic review of 36 trials involving 1,400 patients found only 19 were aged 65 or older. Safety data for 10 of these older adults showed no serious adverse events; only transient mild-to-moderate effects like anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, and hypertension occurred during dosing sessions. The authors conclude that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears safe and well tolerated in older adults and warrants more rigorous investigation for psychiatric treatment in this population.
Cancer
December 18, 2023
Yvan Beaussant, Kabir Nigam, Zachary Sager et al.
22 citations
Patients with cancer and depression who received psilocybin-assisted therapy in a group setting found the approach generally acceptable. The group sessions increased their sense of safety and preparedness, fostered connection and belonging, and deepened the meaning of their experience, opening dimensions of self-transcendence and compassion. Key factors influencing acceptability included the therapeutic framework, the complementary role of individual sessions, and group size and structure. The findings suggest that combining group and individual sessions may enhance perceived safety and efficacy compared to either format alone, offering a scalable model for integrating psilocybin-assisted therapy into cancer care.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Mary R Shen, Dylan E Campbell, Anika Kopczynski et al.
10 citations
A scoping review of eight studies found that ketamine may help reduce opioid cravings and use in people with opioid use disorder and can attenuate precipitated withdrawal symptoms, often as an adjunct to buprenorphine. The review searched two databases, yielding 998 studies, of which eight met inclusion criteria: two on opioid use disorder and six on opioid withdrawal. The evidence is preliminary, and more research is needed before widespread clinical use.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
January 1, 2025
Kabir Nigam, Franklin King, Fernando Espi Forcen
4 citations
Ketamine is non-inferior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression and is better tolerated than many second-line augmentation strategies. Currently viewed as a third-line agent for treatment-refractory depression, the available data suggest ketamine carries a low side-effect burden. Given the relationship between treatment outcomes and duration of untreated illness, the authors argue psychiatry should evaluate ketamine as a second-line augmentation strategy for refractory depression.
General hospital psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Yvan Beaussant, Elise Tarbi, Kabir Nigam et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) is promising for cancer-related depression, but little is known about how the therapeutic context affects patient experiences. In interviews with 28 patients with cancer and depression who participated in a clinical trial, participants described the psilocybin experience as intense and demanding. Therapeutic benefits were closely tied to their ability to "surrender"—accepting and remaining open to the experience's intensity and unpredictability. A safe, supportive, and ethical environment was critical for trust and engagement. Preparation and integration were key to maximizing benefit. Music played a variable role, sometimes enhancing and other times distracting. The clinical setting provided safety, while ceremonial elements added meaning.
Clinics in geriatric medicine
August 1, 2023
Kabir Nigam, Kimberly A Curseen, Yvan Beaussant
3 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapy effectively treats the multidimensional psychological distress common at the end of life, which includes psychosocial, existential, and physical symptom burdens. Ketamine and cannabis may provide rapid relief for symptom burden. More data is needed, especially in elderly populations.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
October 25, 2024
Kabir Nigam, Franklin King, Fernando Espi Forcen
2 citations
Ketamine appears highly effective for refractory depression, with fewer side effects and better tolerability than many other augmentation strategies. Evidence on mediators of psychiatric treatment outcomes suggests that using ketamine earlier in the course of treatment could improve patient outcomes.
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
November 3, 2025
Yvan Beaussant, Zachary Sager, Caitlin W. Brennan et al.
1 citation
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, combined with preparation and integration sessions, was safely administered to ten terminally ill home hospice patients. No serious adverse events occurred. Demoralization scores dropped by an average of 8.8 points three weeks after the session, despite patients' ongoing physical decline. Grief and peace themes were common during the drug sessions. Although most participants rated the treatment favorably, some found the emotional intensity challenging. The results suggest that psilocybin-assisted therapy can be feasibly and safely integrated into hospice care, but larger studies are needed to confirm its benefits.
Psychedelic Medicine
October 8, 2025
Elise C. Tarbi, Skye A. Miner, Kabir Nigam et al.
1 citation
Patients with cancer and depression describe their cancer experience as deepening their awareness of mortality and prompting them to reprioritize relationships and efforts. In a trial of psilocybin-assisted group therapy, participants sought not only relief from depression but also a new perspective on existential worries and spiritual resources. After treatment, they reported lasting effects including an enhanced sense of meaning, agency, aliveness, and connectedness, describing the experience as a healing, unfolding transformation. The findings illuminate how psilocybin-assisted therapy may address existential suffering and foster personal growth in this population.