Exploring the Use of Psilocybin Therapy for Existential Distress: A Qualitative Study of Palliative Care Provider Perceptions
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 16, 2021 Coryn E. Mayer, Virginia Lebaron, Kimberly Acquaviva 17 citations
Palliative care providers see multiple barriers—cultural, institutional, relational, and individual—to addressing existential distress in their patients. They describe the power and duality of being present with suffering, view suffering as inherently subjective, and express uncertainty about the risks and benefits of psilocybin therapy. These findings come from interviews with five interdisciplinary hospital-based palliative care team members. The authors call for more research to guide safe, inclusive integration of psilocybin into palliative care for existential distress.