Psychedelics, spirituality, and existential distress in patients at the end of life.
Nicole Cornish, Tara Coles, M. Jennifer Cheng, Claudia Ruiz Sotomayor, Aaron Wolfgang, Christopher Spevak
Cleve Clin J Med April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.92a.24100 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractRecent clinical trials on psychedelic-assisted therapy have sparked interest in using psychedelics to address nonphysical suffering, particularly spiritual and existential distress at the end of life. The authors examine the medical, ethical, and legal dimensions of employing psychedelics to relieve such suffering, aiming to encourage further discussion and research on this clinically promising approach.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psilocybin treatment Psychedelic-assisted care Psychedelic medicine End-of-life care |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Argues that psychedelic-assisted therapy may help address patients' spiritual and existential suffering at the end of life, and calls for more discussion and research from medical, ethical, and legal perspectives. |
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials conducted over the past decade have prompted increased interest in the use of psychedelics to treat nonphysical suffering, which can include significant spiritual and existential distress at the end of life. The authors explore the role of psychedelics in helping to address patients' spiritual and existential suffering from a medical, ethical, and legal perspective, with the aim of stimulating discussion and research on this timely and clinically promising topic.