Presence of the World, Presence in the World
Nathalie Ferrand
Cairn.info 2003 DOI: 10.3917/inli.553.0016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Palliative care patients with terminal illness |
| Key points | Argues that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, which combines preparation, substance intake, and integration of experiences, may offer rapid and long-lasting relief of depression, anxiety, and existential distress in terminally ill palliative care patients, and that interest is growing because conventional approaches have shown little benefit despite methodological and administrative hurdles. |
Abstract
Depression, anxiety and existential distress associated with terminal illness have a major impact on quality of life among palliative care patients. Psychedelics are emerging as catalysts for reflective, introspective and sometimes spiritual exploration as part of psychotherapy, with potentially rapid and long-lasting multiple beneficial effects. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) combines preparation, substance intake, and integration of experiences to facilitate profound psychospiritual change. Despite methodological and administrative hurdles, interest in this innovative approach continues to grow because of its potential to offer remission where conventional approaches have shown little benefits.