Psilocybin in Palliative Care: An Update.
Current geriatrics reports January 1, 2023 Emily Whinkin, Moira Opalka, Conor Watters et al. 26 citations
Psilocybin, a tryptamine psychedelic found in certain mushrooms, shows promise for alleviating emotional and spiritual distress in palliative care patients. A review of recent research and field reports indicates that psilocybin has significant and sometimes sustained anxiolytic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and entheogenic effects with a favorable safety profile. However, the research has limitations, including selection bias toward healthy, white, financially privileged individuals and follow-up periods too short to assess long-term psychospiritual benefits and quality of life. Major legal, ethical, and financial barriers to access exist, likely worsened for geriatric and palliative care patients. More large-scale controlled trials are needed.