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Exploring the Use of Psilocybin Therapy for Existential Distress: A Qualitative Study of Palliative Care Provider Perceptions

Coryn E. Mayer, Virginia Lebaron, Kimberly Acquaviva

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 16, 2021 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2021.1916659 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative descriptive study Peer reviewed
Sample size 5
Population Interdisciplinary palliative care providers from a hospital-based team
Topics Psilocybin End-of-life distress
Keywords Palliative care Distress Existentialism Qualitative research Psychotherapist Perception Nursing Clinical psychology
Citations 17
Key findings Palliative care providers identified multiple barriers to addressing existential distress and expressed uncertainty about psilocybin's risks and benefits.

Abstract

There is a growing body of research suggesting that palliative care patients coping with existential distress may benefit from psilocybin. However, there is a large gap regarding the perceptions of palliative care providers who may provide education, counseling services, recommendations, and/or prescriptions for psilocybin if it is decriminalized, commercialized, and/or federally rescheduled and legalized. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of interdisciplinary palliative care providers regarding existential distress and the use of psilocybin therapy. Five (n = 5) health care providers from a hospital-based palliative care team completed a semi-structured interview related to their experiences supporting patients with existential distress and their beliefs and attitudes related to psilocybin as a possible treatment modality. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to identify key themes which included: 1) multiple barriers to addressing existential distress at the cultural, institutional/organizational, relational, and individual levels, 2) the duality and power of presence, 3) suffering as an intrinsically subjective phenomenon, and 4) uncertainty about the risks and benefits of psilocybin. To inform an inclusive, safe, and holistic approach, more research is needed regarding the possible integration of psilocybin therapy within palliative care for the treatment of existential distress.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on psilocybin for end-of-life distress, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
What do health professionals think about implementing psilocybin-assisted therapy in palliative care for existential distress? A World Café qualitative study. Palliative care professionals 2024 Qualitative study n = 16
Set and setting in psilocybin-assisted therapy: A qualitative study of patients with cancer and depression. Patients with cancer and depression 2025 Qualitative study n = 28
"Facing Death. . . Now, That's a Serious Thing to Confront" A Qualitative Analysis of Patient Perspectives on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Cancer-Related Psychosocial Symptoms. People living with cancer (varying types and stages) recruited from a national survey 2025 Qualitative study n = 15
Sense-Making Around Psilocybin in UK Women Experiencing Cancer-Related Existential Distress: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Females in the United Kingdom with a current or previous diagnosis of cancer 2026 Qualitative study n = 7
The need for another tool: Australian healthcare professionals on the use of psilocybin for existential distress in people with cancer Healthcare professionals from cancer treatment centers in Australia 2026 Qualitative study n = 11

Citations in the library

Cited by 16

and 11 more in the library

Cites 29

and 24 more in the library

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Psilocybin End-of-life distress

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Psilocybin for end-of-life distress