Psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases
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.