"I've learned that I'm open-minded to this possibility": A qualitative study to evaluate the acceptability of a psilocybin-aided smoking cessation treatment for people with HIV who smoke.
Patricia A. Cioe, Garrett S. Stang, Danish Azam, Sarah Dugal
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice July 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-025-00563-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | People with HIV who smoke cigarettes |
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Hiv Tobacco treatment Tobacco cessation Quitting tobacco Smoking cessation Psilocybin therapy psilocybin Psilocybin-assisted treatment Patient perceptions Acceptability study Innovative tobacco therapy |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted smoking cessation treatment appears acceptable among people with HIV who smoke, with participants expressing willingness to try it while highlighting concerns about side effects and the need for trusted information. |
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) are disproportionately affected by cigarette use, with a 40 - 70% prevalence rate. Although many express a strong interest in quitting, many PWH who smoke experience lower cessation rates with traditional treatments, in part due to their comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic referred to as "breakthrough therapy" by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), has been shown to have potential as a therapeutic treatment for psychiatric symptoms, (e.g., anxiety and depression) and substance use disorders, including tobacco dependence. Preliminary evidence has shown that administering psilocybin to people who smoke and have been previously unable to quit with traditional treatments resulted in impressive smoking abstinence rates (80%) at 6-months in a smoking cessation pilot study. Explore, using qualitative methods, the perceptions and acceptability of a psilocybin-assisted treatment for smoking cessation among PWH who smoke. Semi-structured, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with PWH who smoke. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using rapid thematic analysis. Twenty-five participants were enrolled: 15 cis male, 9 cis female, and 1 transgender female. Five main themes emerged: varying previous experiences with psilocybin; uncertainty about psilocybin's effects and concern over potential side effects; need for trusted sources of information and testimonials; ultimately willing to try psilocybin-aided therapy for tobacco treatment; and, set and setting of psilocybin use matters. Psilocybin-assisted smoking cessation treatment appears to be acceptable among PWH who smoke. Participants highlighted the importance of addressing key concerns related to an emerging therapy to increase acceptability and willingness to try it. Further research is needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin prior to incorporating this emerging therapy for smoking cessation into tobacco treatment clinical services for PWH.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients with treatment-resistant depression enrolled in an open-label trial of psilocybin | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| Patient Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Adults aged 22 to 69 with clinically elevated anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |
| Psychedelic therapy for smoking cessation: Qualitative analysis of participant accounts Participants who completed a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation pilot study | 2018 | Qualitative follow-up study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis | n = 12 |
| Cancer at the Dinner Table: Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Distress Adult participants with clinically elevated anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis | 2017 | Qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis | n = 13 |
| Reports of self-compassion and affect regulation in psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. non-Hispanic White cisgender men and women with alcohol use disorder | 2023 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |