Research published in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Perceptions and Attitudes on Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy among Underrepresented People with Cancer.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management September 18, 2026 Megan Miller, Molly Meyers, Candace Oglesby-Adepoju et al.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows promise for alleviating psychological and existential distress among people with cancer; however, research is limited by homogeneous samples, raising concerns about generalizability and equity. To explore perceptions and attitudes of PAT among a subset of people with cancer who have been underrepresented in research. A qualitative descriptive study was...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.09.018 Full text Psilocybin Black/african american Psychedelics Education +1

Ketamine for Depression in Serious Illness: Evidence, Safety, and Practical Approaches.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management August 1, 2026 Paul Noufi, Joshua B Borris, Danielle Chammas et al.

Patients with serious illnesses and short prognoses often experience depression and suicidal ideation. Traditional antidepressants are limited by delayed onset, creating a need for rapidly acting therapies. In this Palliative Care Rounds, we examine the evidence for ketamine/esketamine's efficacy as antidepressants, including evidence specific to people with serious illnesses. In psychiatric...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.04.604 Full text Depression Ketamine Palliative care Psychopharmacology +1

Intranasal Ketamine for Existential Distress in Advanced Cancer.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management August 1, 2026 Stefan Aguiar, Mary Makarious, Orly Lipsitz et al.

Depression and existential distress are highly prevalent among patients with advanced cancer, and there is growing evidence for ketamine as a rapidly acting antidepressant in the population, but few studies have examined existential distress outcomes with ketamine treatment. The INKeD-PC trial demonstrated efficacy of intranasal racemic ketamine for depression in patients with cancer receiving...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.04.611 Full text Existential distress Intranasal ketamine Cancer Palliative care +2

Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin During Anticancer Treatment: A Phase II Trial Secondary Analysis.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management August 1, 2026 Daniel A. Schaefer, Manish Agrawal, Emanuele Mazzola et al.

CONTEXT Psilocybin-assisted therapy has demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects in patients with cancer, but most trials have excluded individuals receiving active systemic anticancer treatment, limiting safety data in this population. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy in patients receiving versus not receiving concurrent systemic anticancer...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.07.030 Full text

Psychedelic Experiences and Finitude in Serious Illness: A Qualitative Synthesis

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management March 27, 2026 Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia, Geovanna Maria Isidoro, Cremilson de Paula Silva

CONTEXT: People living with serious illness frequently experience intense existential suffering related to awareness of finitude. Psychedelic-assisted therapies have been associated with reductions in death anxiety and existential distress, yet the experiential processes underlying transformations in the relationship with finitude remain insufficiently understood. OBJECTIVES: To synthesize...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.03.012 Psilocybin Existentialism Reinterpretation Experiential learning +14

Meaning and Psychedelics in Palliative Care: A Narrative Review.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management March 1, 2026 William B Alexander, Eric D Hansen, Brian T Anderson et al. 1 citation

Meaning is a primary existential concern in those with advanced illnesses and functions as an important coping mechanism. Loss of meaning contributes to existential distress, and, in particular, may manifest as demoralization, a syndrome of poor coping that is associated with negative outcomes. Psychedelics are unique psychoactive compounds that, among other properties, are proposed to enhance...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.10.015 Full text LSD Existential distress Palliative Psilocybin +3

Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Cancer Pain Relief: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management January 3, 2026 Karolina L Bryl, Adam W. Hanley, Raymond E Baser et al. 1 citation

Chronic pain affects many cancer survivors yet remains underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. Existing treatments (e.g., opioids, NSAIDs) carry risks like addiction and limited long-term relief, while non-pharmacological options show modest effectiveness. Given these limitations innovative, evidence-based interventions are needed. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), a multimodal...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.12.024 Full text Cancer survivors Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement Pain

Guided Mindfulness of Death to Reduce Fear of Death in Cancer Patients: Randomized Controlled Study.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management August 13, 2025 Tan Seng Beng, Leow Yong Wen, Ng Siew Yoong et al.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of guided mindfulness of death in reducing fear of death in cancer patients. Methods: A parallel-group, nonblinded randomized controlled study was conducted at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, involving 52 cancer patients with moderate to severe fear of death. Participants were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.08.002 Mindfulness Humans Neoplasms Treatment outcome +8

HOPE: A Pilot Study of Psilocybin Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients With Cancer.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management September 1, 2023 Benjamin R. Lewis, Eric L Garland, Kevin Byrne et al. 60 citations

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy shows promise in treating depression and existential distress in people with serious medical illness. However, its individual-based methodology poses challenges for scaling and resource availability. The HOPE trial (A Pilot Study of Psilocybin Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients with Cancer) is an Institutional Review Boards-approved open-label feasibility...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.06.006 Full text Psychedelic-assisted therapy Palliative care Psilocybin-assisted therapy Cancer treatment +3

The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic-assisted Therapies for Symptom Control in Patients Diagnosed With Serious Illness: A Systematic Review

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management February 11, 2022 Lucas Oliveira Maia, Yvan Beaussant, Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia 59 citations

ContextPeople affected by serious illness usually experience suffering in its various dimensions, not only in the physical but also in the psychosocial and spiritual aspects. The interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies as a potential new therapeutic modality has increased since evidence suggests a significant impact of their use on the outcomes of patients with serious illness.ObjectivesTo...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.01.024 Psilocybin Cinahl Psycinfo Medline +8

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Psychological Distress, Fear of Cancer Recurrence, Fatigue, Spiritual Wellbeing and Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer - a Randomized Control Trial.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management February 24, 2020 Sunre Park, Yasuko Sato, Yuka Takita et al.

CONTEXT Mindfulness-based interventions have been receiving growing attention in cancer care. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for psychological distress (anxiety and depression), fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), fatigue, spiritual wellbeing and quality of life (QOL) in Japanese ambulatory...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.02.017 Full text

Online Couple-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients with Primary or Metastatic Brain Tumors and their Partners: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management February 13, 2020 Kathrin Milbury, S. Weathers, Sania Durrani et al.

Purpose: Although patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors (BT) and their partners are at risk of experiencing high symptom burden, they are often excluded from psychosocial intervention studies. Thus, we sought to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a couple-based meditation (CBM) program targeting symptom and well-being outcomes. Methods: Couples completed baseline...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.02.004 Full text

Bruno's Score.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management September 1, 2019 Buddy Marterre

Many of our experiences in hospice and palliative care medicine are challenging. We support dying patients and their families as they struggle with the transition from life to death and continue to support those in mourning. Many times, in America, it is difficult to even appreciate a glimmer of spiritual grace as our patients die. We easily remain stuck in the material and distance ourselves...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.11.013 Full text Zen Christian mysticism Taoism Tibetan buddhism +5

A Pragmatic Evaluation of Symptom Distress After Group Meditation for Cancer Patients and Caregivers: A Preliminary Report.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management February 5, 2018 Gabriel Lopez, Alejandro Chaoul, Catherine Powers-James et al.

Context: Complementary health approaches such as meditation may help improve cancer patient and caregiver symptoms, yet little research has examined the clinical application of these programs. Objectives: We explored the effects of a meditation group class, offered as part of an integrative medicine clinic at a comprehensive cancer center, on patient and caregiver self-reported symptoms....

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.01.018 Full text Meditation Humans Neoplasms Treatment outcome +13

Reflection on the Role of the Spirit in Finding Meaning and Healing as Clinicians.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management January 2018 Carolyn Jacobs

Reflections on the Role of the Spirit in Finding Meaning and Healing as Clinicians is based on a presentation for the George Washington Spirituality and Health Summer Institute on July 13, 2017. The presentation invited health care professionals to explore contemplative practices as ways to invite the Spirit to strengthening their resilience in caring for themselves and others. As clinicians,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.11.011 Full text Contemplative practice Resilience Spirituality

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Post-treatment Breast Cancer Patients: Immediate and Sustained Effects Across Multiple Symptom Clusters.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management January 2017 Richard R Reich, Cecile A Lengacher, Carissa B Alinat et al.

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) face adverse physical and psychological symptoms, often co-occurring. Biologic and psychological factors may link symptoms within clusters, distinguishable by prevalence and/or severity. Few studies have examined the effects of behavioral interventions or treatment of symptom clusters. The aim of this study was to identify symptom clusters among post-treatment BCS...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.08.005 Full text Breast cancer Physical symptoms Post-treatment Psychological symptoms +1

Contemplative spaces in social work practice.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2015 Carolyn Jacobs

Exploring contemplative practices and spirituality in social work has developed a new impetus as the understanding of the importance of those variables in patient care has increased. Social work brings its historical attention to the whole person and the many ways the social worker and patient understand their respective roles in assisting in the process of healing and coping with loss. It is...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.10.004 Full text Contemplative practice Social work Spirituality

Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement ameliorates the impact of pain on self-reported psychological and physical function among opioid-using chronic pain patients.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management April 26, 2014 Eric L Garland, Elizabeth A. Thomas, Matthew O Howard

Context: Chronic pain impacts one-third of the U.S. population, and its effects are debilitating for individuals and costly to the medical system. Although opioids are commonly prescribed to address chronic pain, they confer risk for misuse and addiction in some patients and may not fully restore life function-particularly with regard to psychosocial factors. Because of the multiplicity of...

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.03.006 Full text Mindfulness Humans Analgesics, opioid Pain measurement +11

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for HIV treatment side effects: a randomized, wait-list controlled trial.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management September 17, 2011 Larissa G Duncan, Judith Tedlie Moskowitz, Torsten B Neilands et al.

Context: Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV offer life-extending benefit; however, the side effects associated with ART use negatively impact quality of life and medication adherence among people living with HIV. Objectives: This study tested the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for reducing ART symptoms and bother/distress related to ART side effects....

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.04.007 Full text Meditation Humans Hiv infections Anti-retroviral agents +8

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