Implementing psilocybin-assisted therapy in palliative care settings: A survey of stakeholders
Louis Plourde, Sue-Ling Chang, Olivia Nguyen, Nicolas Garel, Houman Farzin, Jean-François Stephan, Jean‐sébastien Fallu, Michel Dorval
Palliative Medicine May 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/02692163261446141 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 121 |
| Population | Adults involved in palliative care (physicians, other healthcare professionals, caregivers, and managers) from Canada's four most populous provinces |
| Intervention | Psilocybin-assisted therapy |
| Topics | End-of-life distress Psilocybin |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | 95% of physicians reported favorable attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted therapy, and 68% of stakeholders endorsed its introduction during early stages of illness. |
Abstract
Background: While the adoption of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress offers promising support for patients with life-threatening illnesses, implementing this intervention into palliative care settings presents significant real-world challenges.
Aim: To examine palliative care stakeholders' knowledge and attitudes regarding psilocybin-assisted therapy, and identify barriers and facilitators to its implementation.
Design: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey between April 15 and December 18, 2024. The survey assessed perceived knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers and facilitators to the effective integration of psilocybin-assisted therapy into palliative care settings. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twenty-one adults involved in palliative care (physicians, other healthcare professionals, caregivers, and managers) were recruited from Canada's four most populous provinces: Québec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Results: < 0.0001), with 95% of physicians reporting favourable attitudes. The lack of trained healthcare providers was viewed as the primary barrier to implementation. Key facilitators included further research and developing standardised intervention protocols. Sixty-eight percent of stakeholders endorsed the introduction of psilocybin-assisted therapy during the early stages of the illness trajectory.
Conclusions: Translating the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress from clinical trials into palliative care settings requires careful consideration and collaboration with stakeholders. Given the significant divergence in perspectives between clinical and non-clinical groups, tailored interprofessional education could help build shared understanding and support effective implementation. Being conducted in Canada, transferability to different regulatory frameworks may be limited.