Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychedelics for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and existential distress in patients with a terminal illness: a systematic review

  • Review
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 17 June 2023

This article has been updated

Abstract

Background

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.

Aim

Systematically review studies on psychedelic treatment with and without psychotherapy for existential distress, depression, and anxiety in terminally ill patients.

Methods

Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched for original-data studies on the treatment of depression, anxiety, and existential distress with classical or a-typical psychedelics in patients with a terminal illness, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Results

A total of 1850 records were screened, and 33 articles were included in this review: 14 studies on classical psychedelics (DPT, LSD, and psilocybin) and 19 studies on atypical psychedelics (MDMA and ketamine). Results of early pre-post studies are promising but have serious methodological flaws. Recent (controlled) trials with LSD, psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA are of higher methodological quality and indicate positive effects on existential and spiritual well-being, quality of life, acceptance, and reduction of anxiety and depression with few adverse and no serious adverse effects.

Conclusions

Both classical and a-typical psychedelics are promising treatment options in patients with terminal illness. To draw final conclusions on effectiveness and safety of psychedelics, we need larger high-quality studies for classical psychedelics and MDMA. Ketamine studies should pay more attention to existential dimensions of well-being and the psychotherapeutic context of the treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

References

  • Agin-Liebes GI, Malone T, Yalch MM et al (2020) Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer. J Psychopharmacol 34(2):155–166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akechi T, Okuyama T, Onishi J, et al. (2008) Psychotherapy for depression among incurable cancer patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Epub ahead of print 2008/04/22. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005537.pub2.(2): CD005537.

  • Anderson BT, Danforth A, Daroff PR et al (2020) Psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: an open-label safety and feasibility pilot study. EClinicalMedicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100538

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Andrew BN, Guan NC, Jaafar NRN (2018) The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review. Curr Drug Targets 19(8):877–887

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bahji A, Forsyth A, Groll D, et al. (2020) Efficacy of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 96: 109735.

  • Barbosa MG, Delfino RS, Sarin LM et al (2020) Repeated subcutaneous esketamine administration for depressive symptoms and pain relief in a terminally ill cancer patient: a case report. Palliat Med 34(6):822–825

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett FS, Griffiths RR (2018) Classic hallucinogens and mystical experiences: phenomenology and neural correlates. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 36:393–430

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bauereiss N, Obermaier S, Ozunal SE et al (2018) Effects of existential interventions on spiritual, psychological, and physical well-being in adult patients with cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychooncology 27(11):2531–2545

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belser AB, Agin-Liebes G, Swift TC et al (2017) Patient experiences of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. J Humanist Psychol 57(4):354–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blonk MI, Koder BG, van den Bemt PMLA et al (2010) Use of oral ketamine in chronic pain management: a review. Eur J Pain 14(5):466–472

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bobevski I, Kissane DW, Vehling S et al (2018) Latent class analysis differentiation of adjustment disorder and demoralization, more severe depressive and anxiety disorders, and somatic symptoms in patients with cancer. Psychooncology 27(11):2623–2630

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boston P, Bruce A, Schreiber R (2011) Existential suffering in the palliative care setting: an integrated literature review. J Pain Symptom Manage 41(3):604–618

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Breeksema JJ, Niemeijer AR, Krediet E et al (2020a) Psychedelic treatments for psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of patient experiences in qualitative studies. CNS Drugs 34(9):925–946

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Breeksema JJ, van den Brink W, Veraart JKE et al (2020b) Psychedelics in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Tijdschr Psychiatr 62(8):618–628

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter JS, Brockopp DY, Andrykowski MA (1999) Self-transformation as a factor in the self-esteem and well-being of breast cancer survivors. J Adv Nurs 29(6):1402–1411

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen IC, Lee MH, Chen WC et al (2018) Risk factors of lower urinary tract syndrome among ketamine users. Low Urin Tract Symptoms 10(3):281–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chochinov HM, Wilson KG, Enns M et al (1998) Depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation in the terminally ill. Psychosomatics 39(4):366–370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dakwar E, Nunes EV, Hart CL et al (2018) A sub-set of psychoactive effects may be critical to the behavioral impact of ketamine on cocaine use disorder: results from a randomized, controlled laboratory study. Neuropharmacology 142:270–276

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • De Faye BJ, Wilson KG, Chater S et al (2006) Stress and coping with advanced cancer. Palliat Support Care 4(3):239–249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dore J, Turnipseed B, Dwyer S et al (2019) Ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP): patient demographics, clinical data and outcomes in three large practices administering ketamine with psychotherapy. J Psychoactive Drugs 51(2):189–198

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falk E, Schlieper D, Van Caster P, et al. (2020) A rapid positive influence of S-ketamine on the anxiety of patients in palliative care: a retrospective pilot study. BMC Palliative Care 19(1).

  • Fan W, Yang H, Sun Y et al (2017) Ketamine rapidly relieves acute suicidal ideation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Oncotarget 8(2):2356–2360

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca DA, Ribeiro DM, Tapadas M, et al. (2021) Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): cardiovascular effects and mechanisms. Eur J Pharmacol 903.

  • Gasser P, Holstein D, Michel Y et al (2014) Safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. J Ner Ment Dis 202(7):513–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasser P, Kirchner K, Passie T (2015) LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease: a qualitative study of acute and sustained subjective effects. J Psychopharmacol 29(1):57–68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glue P, Medlicott NJ, Harland S et al (2017) Ketamine’s dose-related effects on anxiety symptoms in patients with treatment refractory anxiety disorders. J Psychopharmacol 31(10):1302–1305

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glue P, Neehoff SM, Medlicott NJ et al (2018) Safety and efficacy of maintenance ketamine treatment in patients with treatment-refractory generalised anxiety and social anxiety disorders. J Psychopharmacol 32(6):663–667

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman N, Frankenthaler M and Klepacz L (2019) The efficacy of ketamine in the palliative care setting: a comprehensive review of the literature. J Palliat Med 1154–1161.

  • Grabski M, Borissova A, Marsh B, et al. (2020) Ketamine as a mental health treatment: are acute psychoactive effects associated with outcomes? A systematic review. Behav Brain Res 392: 112629.

  • Greenway KT, Garel N, Jerome L et al (2020) Integrating psychotherapy and psychopharmacology: psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and other combined treatments. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 13(6):655–670

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA et al (2016) Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized double-blind trial. J Psychopharmacol 30(12):1181–1197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grob, Bossis and Griffiths (2013) Use of the classic hallucinogen psilocybin for treatment of existential distress associated with cancer. In: Carr B., STEEL J. (eds) Psychological aspects of cancer. Springer, Boston, MA.

  • Grob CS, Danforth AL, Chopra GS, et al. (2011) Pilot study of psilocybin treatment for anxiety in patients with advanced-stage cancer. Archives of General Psychiatry. 71–78.

  • Grof S, Goodman LE, Richards WA et al (1973) LSD assisted psychotherapy in patients with terminal cancer. Int Pharmacopsychiatry 8(3):129–144

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GrottZanicotti C, Perez D, Glue P (2013) Case report: long-term mood response to repeat dose intramuscular ketamine in a depressed patient with advanced cancer. J Palliat Med 16(7):719–720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez Blazquez M, Cruzado JA (2016) A longitudinal study on anxiety, depressive and adjustment disorder, suicide ideation and symptoms of emotional distress in patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy. J Psychosom Res 87:14–21

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huxley L (1968) This timeless moment: a personal view of Aldous Huxley. Celestial Arts.

  • Iglewicz A, Morrison K, Nelesen RA et al (2015) Ketamine for the treatment of depression in patients receiving hospice care: a retrospective medical record review of thirty-one cases. Psychosomatics 56(4):329–337

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin SA and Iglewicz A (2010) Oral ketamine for the rapid treatment of depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care. J Palliat Med 903–908.

  • Irwin SA, Iglewicz A, Nelesen RA et al (2013) Daily oral ketamine for the treatment of depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care: a 28-day open-label proof-of-concept trial. J Palliat Med 16(8):958–965

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MW, Hendricks PS, Barrett FS et al (2019) Classic psychedelics: an integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacol Ther 197:83–102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kast E (1966) LSD and the dying patient. Chic Med Sch Q 26(2):80–87

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kast E (1967) Attenuation of anticipation—a therapeutic use of lysergic acid diethylamide. Psychiatr Q 41(4):646–0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kast EC, Collins VJ (1964) Study of lysergic acid diethylamide as an analgesic agent. Anesth Analg 43:285–291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kissane DW, Clarke DM, Street AF (2001) Demoralization syndrome—a relevant psychiatric diagnosis for palliative care. J Palliat Care 17(1):12–21

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kolp E, Young MS, Friedman H et al (2007) Ketamine-enhanced psychotherapy: preliminary clinical observations on its effects in treating death anxiety. Int J Transpers Stud 26:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krediet E, Bostoen T, Breeksema J et al (2020) Reviewing the potential of psychedelics for the treatment of PTSD. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 23(6):385–400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Krupitsky EM, Grinenko AY (1997) Ketamine psychedelic therapy (KPT): a review of the results of ten years of research. J Psychoactive Drugs 29(2):165–183

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurland AA, Grof S, Pahnke WN et al (1972) Psychedelic drug assisted psychotherapy in patients with terminal cancer. J Thanatology 2(1–2):644–691

    Google Scholar 

  • LeMay K, Wilson KG (2008) Treatment of existential distress in life threatening illness: a review of manualized interventions. Clin Psychol Rev 28(3):472–493

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Li P, Li Q et al (2020) Effect of pretreatment of S-ketamine on postoperative depression for breast cancer patients. J Invest Surg. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941939.2019.1710626

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mak SK, Chan MT, Bower WF et al (2011) Lower urinary tract changes in young adults using ketamine. J Urol 186(2):610–614

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mathai DS, Meyer MJ, Storch EA et al (2020) The relationship between subjective effects induced by a single dose of ketamine and treatment response in patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review. J Affect Disord 264:123–129

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNulty JP, Hahn K (2012) Compounded oral ketamine. Int J Pharm Compd 16(5):364–368

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell AJ, Chan M, Bhatti H et al (2011) Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder in oncological, haematological, and palliative-care settings: a meta-analysis of 94 interview-based studies. Lancet Oncol 12(2):160–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J et al (2009) Prisma Group Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med 6(7):e1000097

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moitra VK, Patel MK, Darrah D et al (2016) Low-dose ketamine in chronic critical illness. J Intensive Care Med 31(3):216–220

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan CJA, Curran HV and Iscd (2012) Ketamine use: a review. Addiction 107(1): 27-38

  • Nierop-van Baalen C, Grypdonck M, van Hecke A et al (2020) Associated factors of hope in cancer patients during treatment: a systematic literature review. J Adv Nurs 76(7):1520–1537

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ostuzzi G, Matcham F, Dauchy S, et al. (2018) Antidepressants for the treatment of depression in people with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4: CD011006.

  • Pahnke WN, Kurland AA, Goodman LE et al (1969) LSD-assisted psychotherapy with terminal cancer patients. Curr Psychiatr Ther 9:144–152

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pahnke WN, Kurland AA, Unger S et al (1970) The experimental use of psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy. JAMA, J Am Med Assoc 212(11):1856–1863

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier G, Verhoef MJ, Khatri N et al (2002) Quality of life in brain tumor patients: the relative contributions of depression, fatigue, emotional distress, and existential issues. J Neurooncol 57(1):41–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Price A, Hotopf M (2009) The treatment of depression in patients with advanced cancer undergoing palliative care. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 3(1):61–66

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rajagukguk S, Lee T (2020) Intravenous ketamine as an effective and safe treatment in a suicidal patient with cancer who was nil per os. Psychosomatics 61(4):371–374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiche S, Hermle L, Gutwinski S, et al. (2018) Serotonergic hallucinogens in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from a life-threatening disease: a systematic review. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 1–10.

  • Riblet N, Larson R, Watts BV et al (2014) Reevaluating the role of antidepressants in cancer-related depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 36(5):466–473

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richards W, Grof S, Goodman L et al (1972) LSD-assisted psychotherapy and the human encounter with death. J Transpers Psychol 4(2):121–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards WA, Rhead JC, Grof S, et al. (1979) DPT as an adjunct in brief psychotherapy with cancer patients. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying 10(1): 9–26.

  • Rodríguez-Mayoral O, Pérez-Esparza R, Domínguez-Ocadio G et al (2020) Ketamine as augmentation for the treatment of major depression and suicidal risk in advanced cancer: case report. Palliat Support Care 18(1):110–112

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Romeo B, Choucha W, Fossati P et al (2015) Meta-analysis of short- and mid-term efficacy of ketamine in unipolar and bipolar depression. Psychiatry Res 230(2):682–688

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosa WE, Hope S, Matzo M (2019) Palliative nursing and sacred medicine: a holistic stance on entheogens, healing, and spiritual care. J Holist Nurs 37(1):100–106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum D, Boyle AB, Rosenblum AM et al (2019) Psychedelics for psychological and existential distress in palliative and cancer care. Curr Oncol 26(4):225–226

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenstein DL (2011) Depression and end-of-life care for patients with cancer. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 13(1):101–108

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ross S (2018) Therapeutic use of classic psychedelics to treat cancer-related psychiatric distress. International Review of Psychiatry. Taylor & Francis, 317–330.

  • Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J et al (2016) Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychopharmacol 30(12):1165–1180

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rothberg RL, Azhari N, Haug NA et al (2021) Mystical-type experiences occasioned by ketamine mediate its impact on at-risk drinking: results from a randomized, controlled trial. J Psychopharmacol 35(2):150–158

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schenberg EE (2018) Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a paradigm shift in psychiatric research and development. Front Pharmacol 9:733

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schoevers RA, Chaves TV, Balukova SM et al (2016) Oral ketamine for the treatment of pain and treatment-resistant depression. Br J Psychiatry 208(2):108–113

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sexton J, Atayee RS, Bruner HC (2018) Case report: ketamine for pain and depression in advanced cancer. J Palliat Med 21(11):1670–1673

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Short B, Fong J, Galvez V et al (2018) Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: a systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry 5(1):65–78

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer S, Szalai C, Briest S et al (2013) Co-morbid mental health conditions in cancer patients at working age—prevalence, risk profiles, and care uptake. Psychooncology 22(10):2291–2297

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith-Apeldoorn SY, Veraart JKE, Kamphuis J et al (2020) Ketamine as an anesthetic, analgesic and anti-depressant. Tijdschr Psychiatr 62(8):629–639

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer R, Nilsson M, Wright A et al (2010) Anxiety disorders in advanced cancer patients: correlates and predictors of end-of-life outcomes. Cancer 116(7):1810–1819

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanczyk-Sapieha L, Oneschuk D, Demas M (2008) Intravenous ketamine “burst” for refractory depression in a patient with advanced cancer. J Palliat Med 11(9):1268–1271

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sumner RL, Chacko E, McMillan R, et al. (2021) A qualitative and quantitative account of patient’s experiences of ketamine and its antidepressant properties. J Psychopharmacol. Epub ahead of print 2021/03/31. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881121998321. 269881121998321.

  • Swiatek KM, Jordan K and Coffman J (2016) New use for an old drug: oral ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. BMJ Case Rep 2016.

  • Swift TC, Belser AB, Agin-Liebes G et al (2017) Cancer at the dinner table: experiences of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of cancer-related distress. J Humanist Psychol 57(5):488–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi MH, Rush AJ, Wisniewski SR et al (2006) Evaluation of outcomes with citalopram for depression using measurement-based care in STAR*D: implications for clinical practice. Am J Psychiatry 163(1):28–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Amsterdam J and Van den Brink W (2021) Harm related to recreational ketamine use and its relevance for the clinical use of ketamine. A systematic review and comparison study. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. https://doi.org/10.1080/14740338.2021.1949454.

  • Vehling S, Kissane DW (2018) Existential distress in cancer: alleviating suffering from fundamental loss and change. Psychooncology 27(11):2525–2530

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Wang Y, Xu X, et al. (2020) Use of various doses of S-ketamine in treatment of depression and pain in cervical carcinoma patients with mild/moderate depression after laparoscopic total hysterectomy. Medical Science Monitor 26.

  • Wilson KG, Chochinov HM, McPherson CJ et al (2007) Suffering with advanced cancer. J Clin Oncol 25(13):1691–1697

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson KG, Dalgleish TL, Chochinov HM et al (2016) Mental disorders and the desire for death in patients receiving palliative care for cancer. BMJ Support Palliat Care 6(2):170–177

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfson PE, Andries J, Feduccia AA et al (2020) MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety and other psychological distress related to life-threatening illnesses: a randomized pilot study. Sci Rep 10(1):20442

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Xu R, Zhan Y and Chen S (2017) Effect of intraoperative single administration of sub-anesthesia ketamine on breast cancer patients with depression. Biomedical Research (India) 2017(Special Issue HealthScienceandBioConvergenceTechnologyEdition-II): S552-S556.

  • Zanicotti CG, Perez D and Glue P (2012) Mood and pain responses to repeat dose intramuscular ketamine in a depressed patient with advanced cancer. J Palliat Med 400–403.

  • Zheng W, Li XH, Zhu XM et al (2019) Adjunctive ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy for major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Affect Disord 250:123–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center, 9713 GZ, Hanzeplein 1 GroningenGroningen, Netherlands

    Nina Schimmers, Joost J. Breeksema, Sanne Y. Smith-Apeldoorn, Jolien Veraart & Robert A. Schoevers

  2. PsyQ Haaglanden, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Mangostraat 1, 2552 KS, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Jolien Veraart

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Wim van den Brink

Authors
  1. Nina Schimmers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joost J. Breeksema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sanne Y. Smith-Apeldoorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jolien Veraart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wim van den Brink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Robert A. Schoevers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors conceived the project and collaborated on the methodology. NS developed the search queries, performed the searches, and drafted the manuscript; NS and JB collected and selected the data. All authors analyzed the data and revised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nina Schimmers.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Ethic approval was not required for this systematic review of existing literature.

Conflict of interest

NS, JB, SM, and WB have no conflicts of interest to declare. JV received a speakers fee from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work. RS received research funding for two randomized clinical trials with generic oral esketamine from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development and the National Health Care Institute, a speakers fee from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and consultancy fee from Clexio biosciences, both outside the submitted work.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The original version of this article was revised: This article was originally published without the corresponding author name as Nina Schimmel. This was legally changed to Schimmers.

Appendix Search terms

Appendix Search terms

Database

Search query

Pubmed

("Hallucinogens"[Mesh] OR "Hallucinogens" [Pharmacological Action] OR "Ketamine"[Mesh] OR "Esketamine" [Supplementary Concept] OR "Esketamine" OR "N-methylketamine" [Supplementary Concept] OR “N-methylketamine” OR "2-Oxo-PCE" [Supplementary Concept] OR “2-Oxo-PCE “ OR "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide"[Mesh] OR lsd[tiab] OR Dipropyltryptamine[tiab] OR Hallucinogen*[tiab] OR psychedelic*[tiab] OR ketamine[tiab] OR MDMA[tiab] OR "N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine"[Mesh] OR "methylenedoxyamphetamine demethylenase" [Supplementary Concept]) AND ("Depression"[Mesh] OR "Adjustment Disorders"[Mesh] OR "Major Depressive Disorder 1" [Supplementary Concept] OR "Anxiety"[Mesh] OR depress*[tiab] OR anxiet*[tiab] OR existential*[tiab] OR psychol*[tiab] OR stress*[tiab] OR distress*[tiab] OR "fear of death"[tiab] OR "Demoralization"[Mesh] OR "Psychological Distress"[Mesh] OR "Mental Disorders"[Mesh]) AND ("Palliative Care"[Mesh] OR "Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing"[Mesh] OR "Palliative Medicine"[Mesh] OR "Neoplasms"[Mesh] OR "Terminal Care"[Mesh] OR palliative[tiab] OR terminal*[tiab] OR life-threaten*[tiab] OR end-of-life[tiab] OR cancer*[tiab] OR dying[tiab] OR tumor[tiab] OR advanced malignanc*[tiab] OR hospice[tiab]) NOT ("animals"[MeSH] NOT "humans"[MeSH])

EMbase

('psychedelic agent'/exp OR 'ketamine'/exp OR 'esketamine'/exp OR 'lysergide'/exp OR 'midomafetamine'/exp OR (Hallucinogen* OR psychedelic* OR ketamine OR MDMA OR lsd OR Dipropyltryptamine):ab,kw,ti) AND ('depression'/exp OR 'adjustment disorder'/exp OR 'anxiety'/exp OR 'demoralization'/exp OR (depress* OR anxiet* OR existential* OR psychol* OR distress* OR ‘fear of death’):ab,kw,ti) AND ('hospice'/exp OR 'neoplasm'/exp OR 'terminal care'/exp OR (palliative OR terminal OR ‘life-threaten*’ OR ‘end-of-life’ OR cancer* OR dying OR ‘advanced malignan*’):ab,kw,ti) NOT ('animal'/exp NOT 'human'/exp)

PsycInfo

(DE "Hallucinogenic Drugs" OR DE "Bufotenine" OR DE "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" OR DE "Mescaline" OR DE "Peyote" OR DE "Phencyclidine" OR DE "Psilocybin" OR DE "Ketamine" OR DE "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" OR DE "Methylenedioxymethamphetamine" OR TI (Hallucinogen* OR psychedelic* OR ketamine OR MDMA OR OR lsd OR Dipropyltryptamine OR “methylenedioxyamphetamine demethylase” OR "2-Oxo-PCE" OR "N-methylketamine") OR AB (Hallucinogen* OR psychedelic* OR ketamine OR MDMA OR lsd OR Dipropyltryptamine OR “methylenedioxyamphetamine demethylase” OR "2-Oxo-PCE" OR "N-methylketamine"))

AND

(DE "Depression (Emotion)" OR DE "Emotional States" OR DE "Sadness" OR E "Major Depression" OR DE "Anaclitic Depression" OR DE "Dysthymic Disorder" OR DE "Endogenous Depression" OR DE "Late Life Depression" OR DE "Postpartum Depression" OR DE "Reactive Depression" OR DE "Recurrent Depression" OR DE "Treatment Resistant Depression" OR DE "Adjustment Disorders" OR DE "Anxiety" OR DE "Anxiety Sensitivity" OR DE "Computer Anxiety" OR DE "Death Anxiety" OR DE "Health Anxiety" OR DE "Mathematics Anxiety" OR DE "Performance Anxiety" OR DE "Social Anxiety" OR DE "Speech Anxiety" OR DE "Test Anxiety" OR DE "Demoralization" OR DE "Psychological Needs" OR DE "Psychological Stress" OR DE "Affective Disorders" OR DE "Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder" OR DE "Major Depression" OR DE "Seasonal Affective Disorder" OR DE "Anxiety Disorders" OR DE "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" OR DE "Panic Attack" OR DE "Panic Disorder" OR TI (depress* OR anxiet* OR existential* OR psychol* OR stress* OR distress* OR “fear of death”) OR AB (depress* OR anxiet* OR existential* OR psychol* OR stress* OR distress* OR “fear of death”))

AND

(DE "Hospice" OR DE "Palliative Care" OR DE "Assisted Suicide" OR DE "Euthanasia" OR DE "Neoplasms" OR DE "Benign Neoplasms" OR DE "Breast Neoplasms" OR DE "Endocrine Neoplasms" OR DE "Leukemias" OR DE "Melanoma" OR DE "Metastasis" OR DE "Nervous System Neoplasms" OR DE "Terminal Cancer" OR DE "Terminally Ill Patients" OR DE "Death and Dying" OR DE "Death Anxiety" OR DE "Death Attitudes" OR TI (palliative OR terminal* OR hospice OR “life-threaten*” OR “end-of-life” OR cancer* OR dying OR tumor OR “advanced malignanc*”) OR AB (palliative OR terminal* OR hospice OR “life-threaten*” OR “end-of-life” OR cancer* OR dying OR tumor OR “advanced malignanc*”))

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schimmers, N., Breeksema, J.J., Smith-Apeldoorn, S.Y. et al. Psychedelics for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and existential distress in patients with a terminal illness: a systematic review. Psychopharmacology 239, 15–33 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-06027-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-06027-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation