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.
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.