Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress: practical considerations for therapeutic application—a review
Annals of Palliative Medicine August 22, 2024 Arum Kim, Barley Halton, Akash Shah et al. 11 citations
Existential distress, a distinct condition from depression or anxiety, is common among patients with life-threatening illnesses and is linked to worse quality of life, suicidal ideation, and requests for hastened death. Traditional medications and psychotherapy show limited effectiveness for this condition. Psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin and LSD, combined with psychotherapy, have produced rapid and sustained reductions in existential and psychiatric distress, offering a promising treatment for palliative care patients. This narrative review covers the history of psychedelic medicine, including early studies and modern clinical trials, and outlines practical considerations for psilocybin-assisted therapy, such as pharmacokinetics, patient selection, dosing, protocol design, and safety measures. The review aims to help palliative care providers become familiar with the current science and potential of this treatment.