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The effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy on illness and death anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aron Amaev, Jianmeng Song, Yasaman Kambari, Edgardo Carmona-Torres, Ali Abdolizadeh, Fumihiko Ueno, Teruki Koizumi, Antonio P. Strafella, Muhammad Ishrat Husain, Ariel Graff‐guerrero, Philip Gerretsen

Journal of Psychiatric Research March 14, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.03.022 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed
Population People with life-threatening illness
Intervention Serotonergic psychedelic assisted therapy
Topics Anxiety Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Keywords Innovative therapeutic approach Profound anxieties Existential dread Mental health peace Well-being Synthesizing existing research
Citations 8
Key findings Psychedelic-assisted therapy was associated with sustained decreases in death anxiety and state and trait anxiety in the context of having a life-threatening illness.

Abstract

Illness anxiety (IA) is characterized by worry or fear in response to living with a chronic illness or a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious disease in conjunction with absent to mild somatic symptomatology. Death anxiety (DA) may underpin IA and is more common in individuals with life-threatening illness. Treatments for DA and IA, such as psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs, are limited. Serotonergic psychedelic assisted therapy (PT) is a promising treatment alternative as it acts more rapidly than antidepressants and has been shown to decrease anxiety associated with life-threatening illness. This meta-analysis aims to systematically analyze PTs efficacy for DA and IA. A literature search of English language publications was conducted through the Ovid database using Medline®, PsychINFO®, and Embase® from date of inception to February 2024. Validated measures were available to assess DA. However, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was the only measure consistently available across studies to assess anxiety. Given the STAI State scale assesses transient anxiety, which may occur as a result of stressful circumstances, we employed it as a measure of anxiety in the context of a life-threatening illness. Five randomized controlled trials were included. The results showed that PT was associated with sustained decreases in DA and State and Trait anxiety in the context of having a life-threatening illness. This meta-analysis highlights PT as a treatment for DA and anxiety in the context of a life-threatening illness. Future studies should attempt to replicate these findings in other contexts, such as IA Disorder and somatic symptom disorders.

Comparable studies

Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy 2020 Systematic review
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions 2022 Systematic review
Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... 2023 Systematic review with meta-analysis n = 14
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder 2023 Systematic review and meta-analysis n = 686
Treating posttraumatic stress disorder with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: A preliminary meta-analysis and comparison to prolonged exposure therapy Patients with PTSD 2016 Meta-analysis

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Anxiety Psychedelic-assisted therapy Serotonin