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.
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.