Palliative & Supportive Care
July 6, 2026
Megan F Noonan, Catherine E Mosher, Ekin Secinti et al.
The breath counting task (BCT) has shown evidence of validity as a behavioral measure of mindfulness in healthy populations but remains largely untested in clinical contexts. The BCT is a computerized measure of present-moment awareness based on breath-counting accuracy. This study provides a preliminary evaluation of its validity in adults with advanced cancer and their family caregivers....
Palliative & Supportive Care
2026
Stephen P. Lewis
1 citation
OBJECTIVES: People with serious illnesses often experience spiritual and emotional pain, manifesting in conditions such as depression, anxiety, and demoralization. Emerging research in psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown efficacy in treating these conditions. Despite evidence that psychedelics frequently occasion mystical/spiritual experiences in participants, there has been little research...
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.
Palliative & Supportive Care
December 26, 2025
Taís Oliveira Silva, Bruno Angeli-Faez, Lorena Cândida Ferreira Paixão et al.
End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) and delirium frequently occur near death but differ in core features. Clinical differentiation becomes challenging when they co-occur. This case report illustrates the interplay between ELDVs and delirium, examines the limits of current diagnostic criteria in mixed cases, and outlines a nuanced approach to distinction. We report the case of an elderly...
Palliative & Supportive Care
April 22, 2025
Maria I Lapid, Sandeep R Pagali, Andrea L Randall et al.
9 citations
Psychological and existential distress is prevalent among patients with life-threatening cancer, significantly impacting their quality of life. Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promise in alleviating these symptoms. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the efficacy and safety of psilocybin in reducing cancer-related distress. We searched MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane...
Palliative & Supportive Care
January 27, 2025
Chrystabel Butler, Natasha Michael, David Kissane
6 citations
To explore the potential of incorporating personally meaningful rituals as a spiritual resource for Western secular palliative care settings. Spiritual care is recognized as critical to palliative care; however, comprehensive interventions are lacking. In postmodern societies, the decline of organized religion has left many people identifying as "no religion" or "spiritual but not religious."...
Palliative & Supportive Care
January 21, 2025
Caroline Dorsen, Lola Noero, Michelle Knapp et al.
5 citations
The recent wave of clinical trials of psychedelic substances among patients with life-limiting illness has largely focused on individual healing. This most often translates to a single patient receiving an intervention with researchers guiding them. As social isolation and lack of connection are major drivers of current mental health crises and group work is expected to be an important aspect...
Palliative & Supportive Care
January 21, 2025
Amvrine Ganguly, Monique James, Yesne Alici
Since physician-assisted dying (PAD) has become a part of the clinical dialogue in the United States (US) and other Western countries, it has spawned controversy in the moral, ethical, and legal realm, with significant cross-country variation. The phenomenon of PAD includes 2 practices: Euthanasia and medical aid in dying (MAiD). Although euthanasia has been allowed in different parts of the...
Palliative & Supportive Care
2025
Houman Farzin, Brigita Koren, Helen Ferrier et al.
1 citation
Abstract Objectives Psychospiritual distress affects many patients with cancer, contributing to diminished quality of life, decreased survival and a desire for hastened death. The current standard of care, which primarily consists of antidepressants and psychotherapy, has demonstrated only modest benefits. Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has shown evidence of rapid, durable, and significant...
Palliative & Supportive Care
October 1, 2024
Marianne Masse-Grenier, Sue-Ling Chang, Ariane Bélanger et al.
4 citations
Promising studies show that psilocybin-assisted therapy relieves existential distress in patients with serious illnesses, a difficult condition to treat with current treatment options. There is growing interest in this therapy in palliative care. Canada recently amended its laws to allow physicians to request psilocybin for end-of-life distress. However, barriers to access remain. Since...
Palliative & Supportive Care
October 1, 2024
Carolina Simões, Miguel Julião, Patrícia Calaveiras et al.
1 citation
Ketamine has been widely used in refractory pain as an opioid adjuvant. Evidence suggests that ketamine can also have an essential role in easing depressive symptoms. Its rapid onset of action makes it a valuable choice in palliative care. We present a case of a 70-year-old man with stage IV renal carcinoma and bone metastasis. The main symptoms included neuropathic pain, depression, and a...
Palliative & Supportive Care
December 1, 2023
Roxanne Sholevar, John Peteet, Justin J. Sanders et al.
9 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT) are emerging as a promising treatment for psycho-existential distress in patients with serious illness. A recent qualitative analysis of perspectives of 17 experts in serious illness care and/or PAT research identified divergent views on the therapeutic potential and safety of PAT in patients with serious illness. This paper further analyzes the factors that...
Palliative & Supportive Care
August 1, 2023
Xuepeng Jing, Nicholas Hoeh, David B Menkes
18 citations
People with terminal illnesses often experience psychological distress and associated disability. Recent clinical trial evidence has stimulated interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics at end of life. Much uncertainty remains, however, mainly due to methodological difficulties that beset existing trials. We conducted a scoping review of pipeline clinical trials of psychedelic treatment...
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...
Palliative & Supportive Care
March 8, 2021
Gil P. Soriano, Kathyrine A. Calong Calong
Abstract Objective The study was conducted in order to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being and self-transcendence and to identify the spiritual practices utilized by Filipino patients who are recovering from breast cancer. Methods A descriptive correlational study was used, and a purposive sampling technique was utilized to select the participants in the study. Data were...
Palliative & Supportive Care
June 1, 2011
David K Wellisch, Marie Cohen
The purposes of this study were: (1) to explore cancer patients' complaints of poor sleep, which often involve a combination of somatic symptoms and nightmares; and (2) to understand these sleep disturbances in the light of modern dream theories and intervention modalities. The literature search originated with several major articles (Revonsuo, 2000; Krakow & Zadra, 2006; Hobson, 2009) which...
Palliative & Supportive Care
December 1, 2009
Cynda Hylton Rushton, Deborah E Sellers, Karen S Heller et al.
Health care professionals report a lack of skills in the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of caring for dying people and high levels of moral distress, grief, and burnout. To address these concerns, the "Being with Dying: Professional Training Program in Contemplative End-of-Life Care" (BWD) was created. The premise of BWD, which is based on the development of mindfulness and receptive...