Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) affects up to 30% of bereaved carers in oncology settings, and current treatments fail up to half of participants. The PARTING trial is the first to test psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for cancer-related PGD. In this open-label pilot, about 15 participants receive a 25 mg dose of psilocybin with supportive guidance, plus preparation and integration sessions delivered by a psychologist and a nurse or Indigenous Therapist. Feasibility, safety, and acceptability are assessed through recruitment rates, adverse events, physiological measures, and qualitative interviews. Quantitative measures include grief severity, depression, anxiety, and quality of life over a 12-month follow-up.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy should be investigated as a treatment for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD involves appearance-based preoccupations and compulsions. Although existing treatments are safe and effective, non-response and relapse rates remain high. Preliminary evidence indicates safety, feasibility, and potential efficacy of psychedelic treatments for disorders sharing psychopathological mechanisms with BDD. Based on this evidence, qualitative reports, and theoretical proposals, the authors argue for a phase 2a study to assess safety and feasibility of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in BDD, and offer suggestions for future research.