Existing evidence for the use of psychedelics in patients with cancer and other serious illness: A narrative review.

People with cancer or serious illness experience mood disorders and existential distress more often than the general population. Limited pharmacological advances and variable psychological treatments have prompted interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy. A narrative review of five randomized controlled trials published between 2011 and 2020, testing psilocybin, MDMA, or LSD in palliative or oncology settings, found that four of the five showed a significant decrease in anxiety at least at one time point, and three indicated a significant decrease in depression. No serious adverse events related to the drug sessions were reported. Psychedelic-assisted therapy appears to be a promising addition or complement to existing treatments for depression, anxiety, and existential distress in this population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mood disorders and existential distress impact those with cancer or a serious illness at higher rates than the general population. There have been limited pharmacological advances in recent years, and available psychological interventions vary in degree of impact and durability as a treatment modality in this population. A recent renaissance in psychedelic research has suggested that this class of medications might offer an alternative treatment model for anxiety, depression, and existential and psychological distress that often accompanies the diagnosis of a serious illness. Utilizing a narrative review approach, EMBASE and PubMed databases were searched with no beginning date range through April 2024 to identify randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on LSD, psilocybin and MDMA in palliative care or oncology and other life limiting illnesses. Five articles published between 2011 and 2020 met the inclusion criteria. Three studies utilized psilocybin and one study evaluated MDMA and LSD. The number of participants ranged from 12 to 56 with four studies that utilized a crossover design. Four of the five studies showed a significant decrease in anxiety during at least one time point in their study and three studies indicated a significant decrease in depression. None of the studies reported serious adverse events related to the experimental drug sessions. Psychedelic assisted therapy for the treatment of depression, anxiety and existential distress is a promising treatment modality as an addition or compliment to other available pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.