The Potential of Psychedelics for End of Life and Palliative Care.
David B. Yaden, Sandeep M. Nayak, Natalie Gukasyan, Brian T Anderson, Roland R. Griffiths
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2022 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_278 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with life-threatening diagnoses |
| Topics | Psilocybin End-of-life distress |
| Keywords | End of life Palliative care Psychedelics |
| Citations | 31 |
| Key findings | Psychedelics may provide clinicians with an additional psychopharmacological treatment in the context of end-of-life and palliative care. |
Abstract
End of life and palliative care has improved in recent decades but the psychopharmacological options available to clinicians and patients in these contexts remain limited. In particular, psychological factors such as depression, existential distress, and well-being remain challenging to address with current medications. Here, we review recent research on the use of psychedelics in clinical settings with a particular focus on patients with life-threatening diagnoses. We propose that psychedelics may provide clinicians with an additional psychopharmacological treatment in the context of end of life and palliative care.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
-
Argues that psychedelics may provide clinicians an additional psychopharmacological treatment for depression, existential distress, and well-being in end-of-life and palliative care.
Synthesized
-
Proposes that psychedelics may provide clinicians with an additional psychopharmacological treatment for depression, existential distress, and well-being in end-of-life and palliative care, where current options are limited.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for end-of-life distress, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness. Palliative care clinicians and patients | 2022 | Review | |
| Psilocybin in Palliative Care: An Update. Palliative care patients | 2023 | Review | |
| Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress: practical considerations for therapeutic application—a review | 2024 | Narrative review | |
| Psychedelics for the treatment of end-of-life distress in patients with a life-threatening disease. Patients with life-threatening disease and end-of-life distress | 2025 | Review | |
| Meaning and Psychedelics in Palliative Care: A Narrative Review. Patients with advanced illnesses in palliative care | 2026 | Narrative review |