A Rapid Review of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Palliative Care
Megan Miller, Molly Meyers, Annona Martin, Stephanie Napolitano, Caroline Dorsen, Andrew Penn, William E Rosa
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000001113 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Rapid review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | End-of-life distress Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows safety and initial efficacy for psycho-spiritual-existential outcomes in carefully screened patients with serious illness, predominantly cancer. |
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves supported experiences with psychedelic medicines in carefully curated environments. Early evidence suggests possible utility of PAT for addressing psychosocial-spiritual-existential concerns, yet gaps remain in understanding findings related to PAT's role in palliative care. This rapid review aims to synthesize current literature on applications of PAT in the context of palliative care. Through a systematic process, we identified 34 articles published between January 2021 and July 2024. Protocols varied yet included common components of participant screening, preparation, dosing, and integration. Psilocybin was the most commonly studied compound. Results support safety and initial efficacy of PAT for psycho-spiritual-existential outcomes among carefully screened and highly homogonous samples of patients with serious illness (predominantly cancer). Current efforts and challenges around integrating PAT into systems of palliative care were highlighted. Additional work is needed to (1) explore PAT's safety and efficacy within more diverse samples and contexts, (2) train palliative care providers on PAT, (3) determine systems of care delivery best suited for translation of PAT into practice, and (4) begin developing policy solutions to support safe and equitable access to PAT. Because many patients lack access to basic psychosocial-spiritual-existential care, careful consideration is needed around integration of PAT.
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 |