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Alesha Wells

6 papers in the library · 69 citations · publishing 2022-2026

Papers

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It’s all about the relationship: The caregiver experience of supporting a person with advanced cancer going through an LSD microdosing trial

Palliative & Supportive Care 2026 Fiona Cottam, Alesha Wells, Cerys Clayden et al.

Participation in trials investigating psychedelic-assisted MCP may offer hope for patients and their caregivers. Given the bidirectional relationship in wellbeing between cancer dyads, caregivers should be included alongside patients in such trials.

DOI: 10.1017/s1478951526101977 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Clinical trial Psychotherapist Terminal cancer Cancer treatment +7

Māori healthcare professionals' perceptions of psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative study.

New Zealand Medical Journal March 14, 2025 Carly Hanna, Eva Morunga, Alesha Wells et al. 2 citations

Psychedelic-assisted therapies are gaining interest as an innovative treatment for problems with mental health and addictions, and there are several clinical trials in this area currently being conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, many stakeholder groups hold concerns about cultural acceptability and safety. While psychedelic substances have a long history overseas in various Indigenous...

DOI: 10.26635/6965.6740 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Indigenous-health Psychedelic-therapy Maori-culture Traditional-medicine +1

A Cross-Sectional Survey Investigating Māori and Non-Māori Cancer Patients' Views on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 4, 2024 Georgia Best, Eva Morunga, Alesha Wells et al. 1 citation

People with cancer experience higher rates of psychological dysfunction than the general population, with extreme inequity among indigenous people. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a reemerging area with promising evidence as a treatment for mental health difficulties. The current study aimed to investigate the perceptions of PAT in indigenous (Māori) and non-indigenous cancer patients in...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2397427 (opens in new tab) Psychedelic therapy Psychedelic-assisted treatment Hallucinogenic therapy Entheogenic medicine +22

PAM trial protocol: a randomised feasibility study of psychedelic microdosing-assisted meaning-centred psychotherapy in advanced stage cancer patients.

Pilot and Feasibility Studies February 12, 2024 Alesha Wells, A P Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Eva Morunga et al. 10 citations

An advanced cancer diagnosis can be associated with a significant profile of distress. Psychedelic compounds have shown clinically significant effects in the treatment of psychological distress in patients with advanced-stage cancer. Given the challenges of delivering timely and effective intervention in the advanced cancer context, it is possible that an alternative, more pragmatic, approach...

Perceptions and attitudes towards psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy among health professionals, patients, and the public: A systematic review

Journal of Psychedelic Studies February 5, 2024 Alesha Wells, Merciana Fernandes, Lisa Reynolds 37 citations

Abstract Background and aims Scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics has been experiencing significant growth. Understanding the perceptions of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) among health professional, patients, and the public is essential to guide future research objectives, trial protocols, and identify any barriers to future implementation. Methods A...

DOI: 10.1556/2054.2023.00294 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Perception Psychotherapist Systematic review Health professionals +2

The perceptions of cancer health-care practitioners in New Zealand and the USA toward psychedelic-assisted therapy with cancer patients: A cross-sectional survey

Palliative & Supportive Care November 3, 2022 Lisa Reynolds, Brian S. Barnett, Jeremy Weleff et al. 19 citations

Abstract Objectives A resurgence of research investigating the administration of psychedelic compounds alongside psychotherapy suggests that this treatment is a promising intervention for anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with cancer. However, psychedelic treatment that induces a mind-altering experience potentially poses barriers to vulnerable cancer patients, and...