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)
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.
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Providers identified multiple barriers to addressing existential distress and expressed uncertainty about psilocybin's risks and benefits.
Synthesized
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Providers described multiple barriers to addressing existential distress and expressed uncertainty about the risks and benefits of psilocybin therapy.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on psilocybin for end-of-life distress, most cited first.