LSD in the Supportive Care of the Terminally Ill Cancer Patient

A review of the clinical literature from the 1950s through early 1980s suggests that LSD-assisted psychotherapy, when used alongside supportive care, can help terminally ill cancer patients manage anxiety, depression, and existential distress. Reports indicate that a single high-dose LSD session, combined with psychological preparation and follow-up, often leads to reduced pain perception, improved mood, and a diminished fear of death lasting weeks to months. The authors note that the therapy appeared to facilitate a sense of meaning and acceptance in patients facing death. However, the evidence is limited to uncontrolled case series and retrospective reports, with no controlled trials available from that period.

Study at a glance

Abstract

(1985). LSD in the Supportive Care of the Terminally Ill Cancer Patient. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs: Vol. 17, LSD in Retrospect, pp. 279-290.