Palliadelic: A neologism that refers to the use of psychedelics in hospice and palliative care settings
Jaime Andrés Vinasco Barco, Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia
Progress in Palliative Care April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/09699260.2025.2484066 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical and conceptual review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | End-of-life distress |
| Key findings | Proposes that the neologism 'palliadelic' can legitimate and advance the use of psychedelics in palliative care, contributing to humanization and reduction of suffering at the end of life. |
Abstract
This article discusses the neologism ‘palliadelic’ to designate the use of psychedelics in palliative care (PC) settings. Combining the concepts of ‘palliative’ and ‘psychedelic’, the term aims to describe interventions that use psychedelic substances to alleviate the psychological, spiritual, and existential suffering of patients with serious or incurable illnesses, or at the end of life. Based on a historical and conceptual review, the text addresses the evolution of the use of psychedelics in medical and cultural settings, highlighting their applications in PC from the pioneering studies conducted in the 1950s and 1960s to the current psychedelic renaissance. In addition, it discusses the conceptual foundations of ‘palliative’ and ‘psychedelic’, emphasizing the importance of terminology for the consolidation of emerging fields in science. It is argued that the use of the neologism ‘palliative’ not only legitimates a growing body of knowledge, but also promotes advancements in research, clinical practice, and public policies directed toward compassionate and innovative care at the end of life. It is concluded that the adoption of ‘palliadelic’ as a core concept can increase the visibility and integration of the therapeutic use of psychedelics in PC, contributing to the humanization of care and the reduction of suffering in end-of-life settings.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Integrating Holistic Communication into Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies in Hospice and Palliative Care: An Approach Based on Peplau's Theory. Journal of Holistic Nursing September 3, 2025
- Psychedelic-assisted therapies for existential and spiritual suffering in palliative care. Progress in Brain Research 2025
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