Palliative Medicine
January 22, 2024
Louis Plourde, Sue-Ling Chang, Houman Farzin et al.
22 citations
A survey of 2,800 adults in four Canadian provinces found high social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life. 79.3% considered it a reasonable medical choice, 84.8% agreed public health insurance should cover it, and 63.3% would support legalization for medical purposes. More favorable attitudes were linked to prior psilocybin use, exposure to palliative care, and progressive political orientation. The findings suggest public support is strong enough to help mobilize resources and improve access to this emerging therapy in palliative and end-of-life care.
Palliative Medicine
May 19, 2026
1 citation
Most palliative care stakeholders in Canada view psilocybin-assisted therapy favorably, with 95% of physicians reporting positive attitudes. A cross-sectional online survey of 121 adults involved in palliative care found that the lack of trained healthcare providers is the primary barrier to implementation, while further research and standardized protocols are key facilitators. Sixty-eight percent of stakeholders support introducing this therapy early in the illness trajectory. The findings highlight significant divergence in perspectives between clinical and non-clinical groups, suggesting tailored interprofessional education could build shared understanding. The study's Canadian context may limit transferability to other regulatory frameworks.
Palliative Medicine
December 18, 2025
Rita S. Matos, A. C. Silva, Licínio Rego et al.
1 citation
In a systematic review of six studies involving 74 adults aged 22–75 years in palliative care, psilocybin-assisted therapy produced clinically significant reductions in depression and anxiety. Between 57% and 79% of participants achieved at least a 50% reduction in symptoms on standardized scales such as HAM-D, HAM-A, BDI, and STAI. Improvements lasted up to 6–8 months in most trials, and in one follow-up study, up to 4.5 years. Adverse effects were mild and transient, including nausea, vomiting, and temporary increases in blood pressure and heart rate; no serious adverse events occurred. The evidence indicates that psilocybin-assisted therapy is both effective and safe for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in palliative care, though more research on integration into existing healthcare systems is needed.
Palliative Medicine
January 30, 2026
James Downar, Julie Lapenskie, Koby Anderson et al.
A 3-week microdose psilocybin regimen (1 mg daily, increasing to 3 mg) was safe and feasible for adults with advanced, incurable illness and severe psychological distress. Among 13 participants who completed the trial, 69% reported meaningful global improvement, 62% showed more than 50% improvement in depression scores, and 72% reported meaningful improvement in demoralization. No serious adverse events occurred; four participants withdrew due to disease progression or poor response. The findings suggest microdose psilocybin may be a potentially efficacious treatment for psychological distress near the end of life.