Psilocybin and Death Anxiety: A Dual-Mechanism Approach to Existential Distress
Annabelle Swain
August 1, 2025 DOI: 10.15760/honors.1734 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin-assisted therapy |
| Topics | Anxiety End-of-life distress Psilocybin |
| Key findings | One or two sessions of psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to long-lasting anxiety relief, especially for people facing terminal illnesses. |
Abstract
This literature review looks at how psilocybin, the active compound in "magic mushrooms," can help people deal with death anxiety; the deep fear of dying or losing control that shows up in lots of mental health struggles. While traditional treatments like SSRIs and talk therapy work for some people, they don't always get to the root of the problem. Psilocybin works differently. It changes brain activity, especially in networks tied to repetitive, self-focused thinking, as well as creates powerful, emotional experiences that help people rethink how they see life and death. This paper covers recent research showing how one or two sessions of psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to long-lasting anxiety relief, especially for people facing terminal illnesses. It also attempts to explain why the therapy works, what it feels like, and who it could possibly help in the future, including people without a diagnosis who still struggle with existential fear. Overall, the goal is to show that psilocybin offers more than just symptom relief; it helps people reconnect with themselves and find meaning, even in the face of death.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for end-of-life distress, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness. Palliative care clinicians and patients | 2022 | Review | |
| The Potential of Psychedelics for End of Life and Palliative Care. Patients with life-threatening diagnoses | 2022 | Review | |
| Psilocybin in Palliative Care: An Update. Palliative care patients | 2023 | Review | |
| Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress: practical considerations for therapeutic application—a review | 2024 | Narrative review | |
| Psychedelics for the treatment of end-of-life distress in patients with a life-threatening disease. Patients with life-threatening disease and end-of-life distress | 2025 | Review |