Psychedelic Therapy for End-of-Life Distress
End-of-life anxiety, existential distress, and cancer-related depression are among the most compelling applications for psilocybin therapy. Landmark trials at NYU and Johns Hopkins demonstrated lasting reductions in anxiety and depression in cancer patients after a single psilocybin session — effects that persisted at 4.5-year follow-up. These results led directly to Oregon and Colorado including end-of-life care in their legal psilocybin programs.
Several service centers in legal states now offer psilocybin therapy for patients facing terminal diagnoses or life-limiting illness. The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for psilocybin partly on the strength of end-of-life research, making it one of the closest indications to achieving formal regulatory recognition.
Clinical Trials
3 trials currently recruiting
Study of Psilocybin Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients With Cancer
University of Utah
Prospective Multicentre Study of the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Refractory Chronic Pain in the French CLCC
Centre Leon Berard
Study of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care
University Health Network, Toronto
Intranasal (NAS) Ketamine for Cancer Pain
Emory University
Study of Oral Ketamine Versus Placebo for Treating Depression in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Cancer
Scott A. Irwin, MD, PhD
Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study
NYU Langone Health