Journal of Palliative Medicine
January 22, 2018
Ira Byock
164 citations
Despite growing evidence that psychedelics are safe and beneficial, political, regulatory, and industry hurdles block their legitimate medical use. Federal expanded access programs and state right-to-try laws already allow terminally ill patients to receive unapproved medications. Because many such patients endure persistent suffering and physician-hastened death is increasingly accepted, the authors argue it is time to reconsider the legitimate therapeutic use of psychedelics.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
April 1, 2020
Yvan Beaussant, Justin J. Sanders, Zachary Sager et al.
39 citations
Experts in serious illness care and psychedelic research hold polarized views on psychedelic-assisted therapies for patients with serious illness, ranging from strong support for medical utility to reluctance due to risks such as delirium or worsening psychological distress. Research priorities focus on patients with clinically diagnosed psychosocial distress like depression, anxiety, or demoralization, though some roles extend beyond traditional medical diagnosis. Essential safety and efficacy guidelines are needed for integrating these therapies into existing care models. The study proposes a conceptual framework for such integration based on interviews with 17 experts from the United States and Canada.
J Palliat Med
April 13, 2021
Yvan Beaussant, James Tulsky, Benjamin Guérin et al.
34 citations
Researchers from palliative care, psychosocial oncology, spiritual care, oncology, and psychedelic-assisted therapies identified seven key opportunities for advancing research on psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with serious illness. Four opportunities relate to science and design: clarifying which conditions the therapy is indicated for, developing and refining therapeutic protocols, investigating how set and setting affect outcomes, and understanding mechanisms of action. Three opportunities concern institutional and societal drivers: education and certification for therapists, regulations and funding, and diversity and inclusion. Participants also noted epistemological limitations of the medical model for understanding psychedelics' therapeutic value.