April 23, 2025
Mika Turkia
preprint
This compilation focuses on success stories—cases of courage, innovation, and the application of knowledge and power in overcoming illness and suffering. It features thirteen ethnographic case studies that describe how people were able to alleviate or overcome serious issues including alcoholism, severe anxiety and depression, suicidal behavior, and psychotic disorders caused by ignorance,...
Palliative Medicine Reports
April 17, 2025
Michel Dorval, Sue-Ling Chang, Houman Farzin et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy represents a promising addition to palliative care interventions, potentially improving quality of life by addressing existential distress. Despite its safety and effectiveness, this therapy remains limited in Canada, underscoring the need for improved access to ease suffering from life-threatening illnesses. However, important questions remain regarding how to...
Research Square
April 16, 2025
Jino Park, Rufus Banks, Akul Munjal et al.
preprint
Abstract Background Comorbid mental health symptoms impact 30–40% of cancer patients, significantly compromising treatment adherence and increasing mortality rates. Among patients undergoing radiation therapy, which is delivered with palliative intent in nearly half of all cases and for those nearing end-of-life, these rates may be even higher. Emerging research underscores the promising...
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
April 2, 2025
Viktoriia Kurkova, Olga Winkler, Andrew J. Greenshaw et al.
This scoping review addresses the need to comprehensively explore the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) to facilitate recovery from moral injury. Moral injury (MI), characterized by profound psychological distress arising from morally challenging experiences, has garnered increased attention as a complex mental health concern with significant functional sequelae, especially...
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing
April 1, 2025
Megan Miller, Molly Meyers, Annona Martin et al.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves supported experiences with psychedelic medicines in carefully curated environments. Early evidence suggests possible utility of PAT for addressing psychosocial-spiritual-existential concerns, yet gaps remain in understanding findings related to PAT's role in palliative care. This rapid review aims to synthesize current literature on applications of...
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2025
L. Cazorla, Sylvie Alaux, Cédric Mabilais et al.
Introduction One of the main mechanisms of action of LSD in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is the activation of 5HT2A receptors. This triggers a cascade of neurochemical processes with the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormonal substances. The release of oxytocin in this process is well documented in pre-clinical studies, with recent evidence in healthy subjects. We have no...
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
April 1, 2025
M. Earleywine, Henry A MacConnel, Joseph A. de Leo
Metaphors applied in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) influence expectations and outcomes. They might help minimize therapist burnout as well. Nevertheless, relatively few publications address their conscious application, especially within a cognitive behavioral framework. Metaphors in PAT related to journeys, rewiring the brain, and medicines are prevalent, but these approaches may not...
April 1, 2025
Ryan D Ward
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are notoriously difficult to treat due to complex biopsychosocial underpinnings and high relapse rates. Recent evidence positions ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) as a promising intervention for treatment-resistant addiction. This review explores ketamine’s neurobiological mechanisms, its synergistic effect with psychotherapy, and clinical data supporting its...
Drama Therapy Review
April 1, 2025
Brett Alters
1 citation
Psychedelics are naturally derived from plants, fungi and bacteria and their experiential therapeutic use evidences improved environmental appreciation. Drama therapy also builds insight through action-oriented treatment interventions that cultivate empathy. This theoretical article proposes possible benefits in pairing drama therapy with psychedelic-assisted therapy to enhance outcomes due to...
Neuroethics
April 1, 2025
Christopher Poppe, Daniel Villiger, Dimitris Repantis et al.
9 citations
Abstract In the present paper, we analyze the ethical issues in training for psychedelic therapy and discuss mitigation strategies for these issues. Specifically, after describing models of psychedelic training, we describe four problems of psychedelic training: (1) the imperative for comprehensive training due to vulnerability of participants, (2) psychedelic but not psychotherapeutic...