PALLIATIVE CARE
The right to die well
Existential distress is a challenging and common issue in palliative care. Patients grappling with the reality of a terminal illness can experience depression and anxiety. The mainstay of treatment for Depression and Anxiety Disorders, SSRI's, have been proven to have very little effect for managing this distress. Psychedelic medicines are showing very promising results with many patients describing their experiences during the trials as the most important in their life.
ANXIETY IN TERMINAL ILLNESS
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Roland Griffiths, Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2016
Psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life. At the 6.5-month follow-up, psilocybin was associated with enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects, sustained benefits in existential distress and quality of life, as well as improved attitudes towards death.
SUICIDAL IDEATION IN TERMINAL ILLNESS
Acute and Sustained Reductions in Loss of Meaning and Suicidal Ideation Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Life-Threatening Cancer. S Ross, ACS Pharmacology, 2021
A randomized controlled trial in which psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) produced rapid and sustained improvements in depression, demoralization, and hopelessness in people with cancer. Among participants with suicidal ideation, PAP was associated with reductions in SI that were apparent as early as 8 h and persisted for 6.5 months postdosing
LONG LASTING EFFECTS
Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer. G Agin-Liebes, Journal of Psychopharmacology 2020
Reductions in anxiety, depression, hopelessness, demoralization, and death anxiety were sustained 5 years on. 60–80% of participants met criteria for clinically significant antidepressant or anxiolytic responses. Participants overwhelmingly (71–100%) attributed positive life changes to the psilocybin-assisted therapy experience and rated it among the most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives. Conclusion: These findings suggest that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy holds promise in promoting long-term relief
LSD FOR ANXIETY
Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases. P Gasser, 2014
A double-blind, randomized, active placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted to examine safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-assisted psychotherapy. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores were significantly reduced and remained so upon follow up one year later.
PATIENTS' EXPERIENCES
LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease: A qualitative study of acute and sustained subjective effects. P Gasser, Journal of Psychopharmacology 2014
Participants reported insightful, cathartic and interpersonal experiences, accompanied by a reduction in anxiety (77.8%) and a rise in quality of life (66.7%). Evaluations of subjective experiences suggest facilitated access to emotions, confrontation of previously unknown anxieties, worries, resources and intense emotional peak experiences.
DEPRESSION IN CANCER PATIENTS
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. S Ross, Journal of psychopharmacology 2016
Psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life. At the 6.5-month followup, psilocybin was associated with enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects.
THERAPSIL
The Drug Science Podcast
If you were told you had months, weeks or even days left to live...would you care what the law said about consuming psychoactive substances? This podcast episode features Spencer Hawkswell the CEO of TheraPsil - a non-profit coalition dedicated to helping Canadians in medical need access legal, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat end-of-life distress.Â
Spencer believes that responsible drug policy requires effective organization and leadership and is dedicated to bringing together the experts and advocates, to facilitate change that results in increased access to compassionate care, harm reduction, and treatment options for those in need.
Psychedelic Therapy for Palliative care with Dr MÂ Ross
The Drug Science Podcast
Dr Margaret Ross is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist from Melbourne, Australia and the Chief Principal Investigator for Australia’s first psilocybin assisted psychotherapy study.
She is researching alternatives for her oncology patients who were terrified of dying and experiencing existential distress in the face of their diagnosis.
After seeing the compelling results of US-based research into the use of psilocybin assisted therapy for patients with existential distress in the face of terminal cancer, she decided to set on a fight so that similar treatments would soon become an option within Australia.
