The potential role of psychedelics in palliative care
Maciej Sulerzycki, Katarzyna Pomykała, Katarzyna Giemza, Szymon Dumański, Michał Pałuchowski, Agnieszka Floriańczyk, Tomasz Dzierżanowski
Medycyna Paliatywna July 15, 2026 DOI: 10.5114/pm.2025.154446 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients at the end of life |
| Topics | Depression End-of-life distress |
| Keywords | Palliative care Psychedelics Existential distress. |
| Key findings | Psychedelics can produce rapid and long-lasting antidepressant and anxiolytic effects with a low risk of serious adverse events in end-of-life patients. |
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics. In palliative medicine, they are being considered as an alternative approach to treating depression, existential distress, and chronic pain conditions. This review presents current literature on the use of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and ketamine in patients at the end of life. The mechanisms of action of these compounds are discussed in detail, with a particular focus on their ability to enhance neuroplasticity and reorganize neural networks in the brain. The paper also examines findings from recent clinical studies, which suggest that psychedelics can produce rapid and long-lasting antidepressant and anxiolytic effects with a low risk of serious adverse events. However, legal restrictions on these substances in most countries continue to hinder scientific progress. While current evidence is promising, further large-scale clinical trials and the development of precise clinical guidelines are needed before psychedelics can be routinely integrated into palliative care. One area that warrants particular attention in future research is the use of psychedelics in patients with suicidal ideation, for whom rapid antidepressant effects are especially critical.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on 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 | |
| Psychedelic medicines for end-of-life care: Pipeline clinical trial review 2022. People with terminal illnesses experiencing depression, anxiety, or existential distress | 2023 | Scoping review | n = 25 |
| Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress: practical considerations for therapeutic application—a review | 2024 | Narrative review |