The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic-assisted Therapies for Symptom Control in Patients Diagnosed With Serious Illness: A Systematic Review
Lucas Oliveira Maia, Yvan Beaussant, Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management February 11, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.01.024 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Patients diagnosed with serious illness |
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Cinahl Psycinfo Medline Psychosocial Cochrane library Randomized controlled trial Systematic review Adverse effect Clinical psychology Psychological intervention Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 59 |
| Key findings | Psychedelic-assisted therapies show positive effects for symptom control in patients with serious illness, especially for psychological and spiritual symptoms. |
Abstract
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 systematically review the available evidence on the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies for symptom control in patients diagnosed with serious illness.MethodsThe protocol of this systematic review has been prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. This review included randomized and non-randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. A comprehensive search for studies was carried out in the main scientific databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE. There were no limitations regarding the year or language of publication.ResultsThe sample was composed of 20 studies. The results suggest positive effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies for symptom control in patients diagnosed with serious illness, with considerable safety of use. Most studies have been conducted with lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and N,N-dipropyltryptamine in cancer patients. The adverse effects reported were of physical and/or psychological nature and of mild to moderate intensity, transient, and self-resolutive.ConclusionThe evaluated evidence suggests positive effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies for symptom control in patients diagnosed with serious illness, especially regarding symptoms of psychological and spiritual nature.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies Patients with cancer- or illness-related anxiety and depression, major depressive... | 2020 | Systematic review | n = 188 |
| Blinding and expectancy confounds in psychedelic randomized controlled trials | 2021 | Systematic review | |
| Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years Patients from included clinical trials | 2016 | Systematic review | |
| The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis People with elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression | 2020 | Meta-analysis | n = 117 |
| Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review Participants from included studies | 2022 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 49
- Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- Are psychedelics the answer to chronic pain: A review of current literature Pain Practice January 4, 2023
- Perceptions and attitudes towards psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy among health professionals, patients, and the public: A systematic review Journal of Psychedelic Studies February 5, 2024
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews September 11, 2024
- Giving consent to the ineffable Neuroethics February 15, 2024
and 44 more in the library
Cites 51
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 4, 2014
and 46 more in the library