Reframing distress in oncology: the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Abstract

Psychological and existential distress are common across the cancer trajectory and can impair quality of life, treatment adherence, and family functioning. Although psychosocial and pharmacological interventions provide meaningful support, their overall effects are often modest. This review examines the emerging role of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a potential approach to better address the multidimensional nature of cancer-related distress. PAT combines psychedelic compounds with structured psychotherapeutic support and typically includes preparatory sessions, a supervised dosing experience, and post-session integration. Psychedelics are thought to enhance neuroplasticity and emotional flexibility, creating conditions that may support sustained psychological change. Recent trials in advanced cancer populations report improvements in anxiety, depression, pain-related distress, and quality of life following one or two dosing sessions. Current evidence remains limited by small and demographically narrow samples, variable treatment protocols, and potential expectancy effects. Implementation also presents practical challenges, including training requirements, time demands, and resource intensity. Despite these limitations, growing international interest may facilitate further development, supporting the need for careful and rigorous evaluation of PAT as a novel intervention for cancer-related distress.