Palliative Medicine
January 22, 2024
Louis Plourde, Sue-Ling Chang, Houman Farzin et al.
22 citations
A survey of 2,800 adults in four Canadian provinces found high social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life. 79.3% considered it a reasonable medical choice, 84.8% agreed public health insurance should cover it, and 63.3% would support legalization for medical purposes. More favorable attitudes were linked to prior psilocybin use, exposure to palliative care, and progressive political orientation. The findings suggest public support is strong enough to help mobilize resources and improve access to this emerging therapy in palliative and end-of-life care.
Palliative & supportive care
October 1, 2024
Marianne Masse-Grenier, Sue-Ling Chang, Ariane Bélanger et al.
4 citations
Palliative care professionals see psilocybin-assisted therapy as a promising treatment for existential distress in patients with serious illnesses, but they have several concerns. In a qualitative study using World Café methodology with 16 palliative care professionals, participants identified needs for educational and certified training, medical legalization of psilocybin, more research, refined therapy protocols, and clarity on who dispenses the therapy, where it is given, and eligibility criteria. The acceptability of the therapy and expanding access appear interrelated, and developing guidelines will be essential for wider deployment.
Palliative Medicine Reports
April 17, 2025
Michel Dorval, Sue-Ling Chang, Houman Farzin et al.
3 citations
A forum in Quebec, Canada, with 57 participants including patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, produced 16 recommendations for expanding access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in palliative care. The recommendations address patient eligibility and equity, regulatory frameworks and respect for autonomy, logistical and organizational aspects, professional education and training, public awareness and information, and research. The report suggests these recommendations could guide similar efforts in other jurisdictions facing barriers to this therapy.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
July 16, 2024
André Do, Vanessa Michaud, Jean-François Stephan et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) may be safe when given alongside certain serotoninergic antidepressants, and stopping those antidepressants before treatment might not be required. In an adult with difficult-to-treat depression who took duloxetine and vortioxetine, a first PAP session with both drugs produced a partial response. After he discontinued duloxetine but kept vortioxetine, his anxiety and depression worsened. Psilocybin was well tolerated in both sessions; mild headaches were the main adverse effect, with no cardiovascular concerns. This single case suggests that combining psilocybin with serotoninergic antidepressants appears safe and that antidepressant discontinuation prior to PAP may be unnecessary, potentially improving treatment accessibility.
The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics
January 1, 2025
Katherine Cheung, M J Brodie, Sue-Ling Chang et al.
2 citations
Physicians may hesitate to prescribe psilocybin for conditions like end-of-life anxiety and depression due to stigma and potential medical malpractice liability. This paper examines the risk of malpractice claims arising from psilocybin treatment in Canada, using exploratory vignettes to illustrate the relevance and limits of such claims. It argues that the absence of established medical standards, standardized training, and credentialing increases liability risks. More clinical trials, meta-studies, and knowledge sharing are needed to develop training programs and medical standards of practice to better realize psilocybin's potential.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
September 12, 2024
Jean-François Stephan, Sani Karam
2 citations
A patient with end-of-life distress from stage 4 astrocytoma received psilocybin-assisted therapy through a special access program and had a positive response without adverse events. Standard treatments for existential distress are often ineffective, and psilocybin-assisted therapy is rarely available, especially for patients with brain cancer. The authors argue that access to this therapy needs to be expanded urgently, as many patients with unresolved existential distress resort to medical assistance in dying without knowing about psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Palliative Medicine
May 19, 2026
Louis Plourde, Sue-Ling Chang, Olivia Nguyen et al.
1 citation
Most palliative care stakeholders in Canada view psilocybin-assisted therapy favorably, with 95% of physicians reporting positive attitudes. A cross-sectional online survey of 121 adults involved in palliative care found that the lack of trained healthcare providers is the primary barrier to implementation, while further research and standardized protocols are key facilitators. Sixty-eight percent of stakeholders support introducing this therapy early in the illness trajectory. The findings highlight significant divergence in perspectives between clinical and non-clinical groups, suggesting tailored interprofessional education could build shared understanding. The study's Canadian context may limit transferability to other regulatory frameworks.
Healthcare
September 12, 2025
Ariane Bélanger, Sue-Ling Chang, Jean-François Stephan et al.
1 citation
A decision aid for psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) was developed to help patients and healthcare professionals weigh risks and benefits when considering treatment for existential distress in serious illness. The booklet, created with a multidisciplinary steering committee following international standards, covers PAT education, treatment comparisons, and personal reflection. Feedback from five patients and five healthcare professionals guided refinements to improve clarity, balance, and usability. The final version met acceptability and usability criteria, offering balanced information to support shared decision-making in palliative care.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 21, 2025
Louis Plourde, Sue-Ling Chang, Houman Farzin et al.
1 citation
The debate about whether psychotherapists should personally experience non-ordinary states of consciousness during psilocybin-assisted therapy training is important because it influences treatment safety, effectiveness, and accessibility. Ethical and practical concerns about making such experience a training standard need urgent attention where psilocybin therapy is being integrated into healthcare. The authors argue that the most balanced and ethical approach is to legally allow psilocybin use for professional training but not require it.
Cahiers francophones de soins palliatifs
January 1, 2025
Angie Shen, Andréanne Côté, Pascal Lamanque et al.
Interest in psilocybin, a substance found in so-called 'magic' mushrooms, is experiencing a marked resurgence in psychiatry and palliative care. Well-studied in the 1950s and 1960s, it fell into obscurity with the prohibition of drugs and the decline of counterculture in the 1970s. Today, its return raises questions about its potential in palliative care, possible beneficiaries, and modalities of access for patients, prompting reflection on the implications of its use in the contemporary context of palliative care.