Education
Psychedelic Research and Training Institute
PRATI’s End-of-Life & Existential Distress Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) Training builds on their Foundational KAP Training course by providing practitioners with the clinical skills they need to support end of life (EOL), existential distress, and palliative care patients and their families.
Websites
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
A collection of articles, resources, and downloadable exercises to help you explore psychedelic integration.
Research
The Potential of Psychedelics for End of Life and Palliative Care
A review recent research on the use of psychedelics in clinical settings with a particular focus on patients with life-threatening diagnoses.
Psychedelics for the Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Existential Distress in Patients with a Terminal Illness: A Systematic Review
Terminally ill patients may experience existential distress, depression, or anxiety, limiting quality of life in the final stage. Existing psychotherapeutic or pharmacological interventions have (time) limited efficacy. Psychedelic treatment may be a safe and effective alternative treatment option.
Facing death, returning to life: A qualitative analysis of MDMA-assisted therapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening illness
A pilot phase 2 clinical trial explored the impact of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) on anxiety related to life-threatening illness (LTI), using qualitative interviews to understand participants’ experiences. Results showed that participants reported reduced psychological symptoms, greater emotional resilience, improved quality of life, and a deeper ability to process trauma, grief, and existential fears.
MDMA and MDMA-Assisted Therapy
This review highlights the distinction between recreational MDMA use and MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT), emphasizing that when administered in controlled clinical settings, MDMA-AT is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD, with 67%–71% of participants no longer meeting diagnostic criteria after therapy. It also explores the neurobiological mechanisms, clinical outcomes, and policy considerations surrounding MDMA-AT, noting the FDA’s 2024 request for an additional phase 3 trial despite promising earlier results.