Psychedelics
in Palliative Care
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy represents a unique extension of the therapeutic possibilities of palliative care. According to current research, it significantly reduces existential distress (anxiety, depression, loss of meaning) in patients with life-threatening illness.
Why give psychedelics a chance
A large proportion of patients with life-threatening illness
suffer from existential distress.
We do not currently have an effective treatment for existential distress.
Current research shows that psychedelics are a very promising
path.
Ira Byock
member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care, author of Dying Well and The Four Things That Matter Most
"Despite the controversial history of psychedelic medications, palliative specialists who care for patients with serious medical conditions and common, difficult-to-treat nonphysical suffering have a duty to explore these hopeful, potentially life-preserving treatments. Against the backdrop of physician hastened death becoming legal in five states, expanded research of clinical psychedelics must proceed."
Anthony L. Back
University of Washington Center for Excellence in Palliative Care, founder of the VitalTalk project
"As an oncologist and palliative medicine physician, I have faced many times the raw fear of patients near death, and felt incapable in the face of it. The studies about the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential fear intrigued me. I do not have anything in my therapeutic pocket that is remotely as impactful as what these studies and anecdotes describe. But I felt that I needed to take a journey myself before discussing it seriously, much less recommending it to a patient."
About us and how to get involved
This website is part of the activities of the working group for palliative care of the Czech Psychedelic Society. Our intention is to contribute to the availability of safe and effective psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for people with life-threatening illnesses. We aim to provide space for current research findings, sharing opinions and experiences.