Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Palliative Care-Insights from an International Workshop.

Experts in palliative care, oncology, psychiatry, and psychedelic-assisted therapy identified special considerations for using psychedelics near the end of life. They emphasized a non-medicalized setting, the potential to reduce preparation time, and the importance of addressing anxiety, depression, and spiritual distress. Dosing flexibility was recommended: low-to-medium doses for relational issues, higher doses for transcendental experiences. Therapists need knowledge of mystical states, existential aspects of life-threatening illness, and their own inner work. The findings provide a first step toward specific treatment recommendations for psychedelic-assisted therapy in palliative care.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Evidence is growing that psychedelic substances have positive effects in the setting of Palliative Care (PC), focusing on special needs in this patient population. After a scoping review of the literature, no published expert recommendations guiding best practice for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) towards the end of life were identified. Objective: To draw conclusions from first-hand experienced professionals on PAT in PC (PATPC). Setting, Design, Participants: An international workshop with experts was held in Wasserfallen, Switzerland. A thematic analysis of a semi-structured, questionnaire-based qualitative study with 13 experts in PC, oncology, psychiatry/psychology, and PAT from Europe, the United States, and Oceania was made. Measurements: The questionnaire was designed to elicit the participant’s perspectives on (A) special considerations on PATPC, (B) specific characteristics of PATPC (versus mental illness), and (C) the relevance of these differences during preparation, substance dosing session, and integration in PATPC. Results: (A) Special Considerations included (non-medicalized) setting, potential need, and possibility to reduce preparation time. (B) Distinguishing characteristics included the patient’s intrinsic motivation for treatment success, the importance of anxiety, depression, and spiritual distress as indications for PATPC, and the importance of sufficient integration of the psychedelic experience into life in the face of limited time due to the life-limiting illness. (C) Flexibility in setting and timing of preparation, choosing the appropriate dosage of the psychedelic substance depending on the patient’s intended focus, low/medium (relational issues), higher for transcendental experiences, considering mental capacity and vulnerability for the individual. In addition, respondents noted that for therapists, knowledge about transcendental states, such as mystical experiences, existential aspects of life-threatening illness, and the role of therapists’ own self-experience/inner work, as well as good knowledge of the theoretical basis for treatment, was highlighted. Conclusions: This study highlights special considerations for PAT PC and could be a first step towards specific treatment recommendations (guidelines) for PATPC.