Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has gained traction in palliative care as a treatment for existential distress in the last decade. Patients with brain cancer have been excluded from studies, yet they stand to benefit as much as other patients with cancer-related psychological distress. In this report, we discuss the case of a patient with end-of-life distress secondary to stage 4 astrocytoma that received PAT through Health Canada's Special Access Program. The patient had a positive response to PAT without adverse events. Standard treatment for existential distress is often inefficacious and PAT is rarely available, especially for patients with brain cancer. We highlight the importance of making PAT more available as many patients with unresolved existential distress resort to medical assistance in dying without ever knowing of the existence of PAT. PAT was effective in partially alleviating the patient's existential distress. Access to PAT needs to be expanded urgently.
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Article Synopsis
- The study explored how psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) impacts personality traits in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD), hypothesizing it would reduce trait impulsiveness and improve drinking behavior.
- Eighty-four AUD patients were divided into two groups (psilocybin vs. placebo) and assessed for changes in personality traits over time, finding significant personality shifts in the psilocybin group, including reduced neuroticism and increased openness.
- The results indicated that lower impulsiveness correlated with decreased alcohol consumption, particularly among those who drank at risk before treatment, pointing to potential benefits of PAT in addressing both personality and drinking behaviors.
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