Exploring the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in enhancing spirituality and mystical experiences in patients with life-threatening illnesses: A systematic review.
Ana Esteves Ferreira, Paulo Reis-Pina
Journal of Psychosomatic Research February 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.112020 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 140 |
| Population | Patients with life-threatening illnesses, majority having cancer |
| Interventions | Psychedelic-assisted therapy psilocybin |
| Topics | Mystical experience Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Hospice care Terminal care Spirituality spiritual well-being Mystical experiences Palliative care Spiritual coping Systematic review |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Psychedelic-assisted therapy, especially with psilocybin, significantly improves spirituality, mystical experiences, and spiritual well-being in patients with life-threatening illnesses. |
Abstract
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is gaining traction as a novel approach to addressing the psychological and existential distress experienced by patients. This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of PAT on spirituality, mystical experiences, and spiritual well-being (SpWB) in patients with life-threatening, incurable, or terminal illnesses. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases to identify relevant studies published between 2013 and 2023. The study population comprised patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Various forms of PAT, encompassing both typical and atypical psychedelic substances, were considered as interventions, with no specific comparators outlined. The primary outcomes of interest included spirituality, mystical experience, and SpWB. Risk of bias assessment was performed using Cochrane's tools. Six studies with a high risk of bias were included in the review, all conducted in the United States of America, involving 140 patients, the majority of whom had cancer (99 %). PAT, especially with psilocybin, demonstrated significant enhancements in spirituality, mystical experiences, and SpWB. Notably, SpWB showed improvements in all studies which assessed this spiritual outcome following PAT. Mystical experiences were correlated with improvements in spirituality in one study. This systematic review underscores the potential of PAT to address unmet spiritual needs and enhance SpWB in patients with life-threatening illnesses. However, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these therapeutic effects. Rigorous evaluation of healthcare practitioners' role in guiding patients through PAT protocols is essential to ensure safe and effective implementation in palliative care settings.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Mind-Body Interventions for People With Cancer: Evidence, Innovation, and Implementation. Seminars in radiation oncology July 1, 2026
- Psilocybin-containing mushroom-assisted psychotherapy is associated with sustained psychological and somatic improvements: two case studies from Jamaica Frontiers in Psychiatry July 29, 2026
- Psychedelic-Assisted Interventions in Palliative Care: A Narrative Overview and Critical Evaluation. Healthcare June 2, 2026
- Efficacy of N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) psychedelic therapy for substance misuse: A systematic review and meta-analysis Journal of Psychopharmacology April 12, 2026
- Artificial Intelligence at the Boundary of Spiritual Experience and Psychopathology: A Scoping Review of Evidence from Türkiye, the USA, the UK, Poland, South Korea, and Israel. Journal of Religion and Health September 13, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 49
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness Journal of Psychopharmacology September 28, 2011
and 44 more in the library