A Concise Overview of the Potential of Psychedelics
Psychedelics in Palliative Care
Marcia Glass (ed.)
Oxford University Press, 2025
Softcover, 184 pp.
ISBN: 9780197760864
MSRP: $59.95 USD
Also available: Kindle
Receiving a diagnosis of a potentially fatal illness has the power to initiate significant transformations in an individual’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual state. For certain individuals, this encounter with the limits of life might result in heightened self-knowledge, emotional maturation, and strengthening of intimate relationships. For others, it could lead to questioning the meaning of existence, or bring about feelings of depression, unease, or loss of hope.
Psychedelics potentially hold the promise of attenuating the positive aspects of this transformative experience. There has been a recent resurgence in the interest of psychedelics after a period of decades-long dormancy and prohibition, which began in the late 1960s and 1970s due to social and legal backlash.
This succinct but comprehensive volume outlines key psychedelic substances that may have practical applications in palliative care.
The areas covered include the history, current trials, pharmacology, legal status, and future areas of research and development of psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, ketamine, ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline.
The authors emphasize the importance of ensuring equitable access of psychedelic-assisted therapies especially for minority and indigenous populations. It proposes several practical measures that can be enacted in the context of the USA.
When paired with appropriate therapies, psychedelics have the potential to alleviate symptoms of existential distress, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms for those suffering from life-limiting illnesses. The authors highlight the urgency of ongoing research to identify best psychotherapeutic practices in the areas of preparation, integration, and experiential sessions.
The set (the psychological mindset and intentions of the recipient) and setting (the physical and psychological space in which treatment is provided) are increasing recognized as important determinants of the outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapies. This is an area ripe for further research that looks at different sets and settings, as well as identifying factors that can be optimized to improve treatment outcomes.
Keeping in mind the chequered history of psychedelics in the 1960s and 1970s, the book proposes a list of ethical considerations—using evidence-based guidelines—that should be considered when implementing clinical practices.
In this rapidly developing area, this concise book is useful for anyone who would like a comprehensive overview of psychedelics in the field of palliative care. It provides up-to-date information and research in the areas of clinical and scientific knowledge, ethics, culture, and legislation. The authors stress the importance of thoughtful and evidence-based care in this vulnerable patient population. They encourage an approach of humility and continued learning as the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy progresses.
Dr. Taching Tan is trained in both geriatric medicine and palliative medicine. He is the director of palliative care and palliative medicine staff specialist at Calvary Health Care Kogorah, New South Wales, Australia.
New on the Shelf
Research Handbook on End of Life Care and Society, edited by David Clark and Annemarie Samuels, is free to read and download. It is described as "an accessible overview of research on palliative and end-of-life care in its social context."