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.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
-
95% of physicians reported favorable attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted therapy, and 68% of stakeholders endorsed its introduction during early stages of illness; lack of trained providers was the primary barrier.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on psilocybin for end-of-life distress, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life: A population-based survey Adults from four Canadian provinces (Québec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia) | 2024 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 2,800 |
| Palliative care patients’ attitudes and openness towards psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress English-fluent patients aged 18 or older with incurable illnesses at a palliative care... | 2024 | Pilot survey study | n = 31 |