Psychedelic-assisted therapy produces sustained reductions in death anxiety and state and trait anxiety among people facing life-threatening illness. A meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials found that serotonergic psychedelic therapy, which acts more rapidly than antidepressants, decreased both the fear of death and the transient and chronic anxiety that accompany serious disease. The analysis used the State Trait Anxiety Inventory to measure anxiety in the context of life-threatening illness. These results highlight psychedelic therapy as a promising alternative to limited existing treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs. Future research should test whether these benefits extend to illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorders.
A systematic review of 42 clinical studies involving 1,068 participants found that psilocybin, when administered in controlled settings, has a favorable safety profile. Common adverse events included headache, transient increases in blood pressure, and nausea, which typically resolved on their own. Serious adverse events were reported infrequently, in only 2 of the 42 studies, and were limited to participants with underlying depressive disorders, such as suicidal behavior or hospitalization. All studies had a high risk of bias due to concerns regarding blinding. The review provides an outline of common and uncommon adverse events, serious adverse events, and considerations for future protocols.