Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy represents a promising addition to palliative care interventions, potentially improving quality of life by addressing existential distress. Despite its safety and effectiveness, this therapy remains limited in Canada, underscoring the need for improved access to eas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mary Ann Liebert
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Palliative Medicine Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0108 |
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| author | Michel Dorval Sue-Ling Chang Houman Farzin Olivia Nguyen Jean-François Stephan Diane Tapp Pierre Deschamps Yann Joly Florence Moureaux Robert Foxman Marianne Masse-Grenier Jean-Sébastien Fallu |
| author_facet | Michel Dorval Sue-Ling Chang Houman Farzin Olivia Nguyen Jean-François Stephan Diane Tapp Pierre Deschamps Yann Joly Florence Moureaux Robert Foxman Marianne Masse-Grenier Jean-Sébastien Fallu |
| author_sort | Michel Dorval |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy represents a promising addition to palliative care interventions, potentially improving quality of life by addressing existential distress. Despite its safety and effectiveness, this therapy remains limited in Canada, underscoring the need for improved access to ease suffering from life-threatening illnesses. However, important questions remain regarding how to integrate psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy into existing health care frameworks, navigate regulatory challenges, and ensure equitable access for all patients. These unanswered questions highlight the complexity of expanding access and the need for thoughtful, informed approaches to its implementation. To address this, the P3A team (Psilocybin at End of Life: Audacity, Acceptability, Access) held a forum on March 22, 2024, in Quebec, Canada, to explore actionable steps for the responsible use and equitable access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. A total of 57 participants with knowledge in palliative care, including professional and patient associations, patients, health care professionals, researchers, and policymakers, attended the event, which featured presentations, a panel discussion, and small-group workshops. This report provides 16 recommendations across six previously identified key topics: (1) patient eligibility and equity, (2) regulatory framework and respect for autonomy, (3) logistical and organizational aspects, (4) professional education and training, (5) public awareness and information, and (6) research. The elements and recommendations discussed in this article could offer valuable insights for expanding access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in other jurisdictions, particularly in global contexts where similar barriers to care exist. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2ee32f0d259456b8c88ea7294479e4b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2689-2820 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Palliative Medicine Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2ee32f0d259456b8c88ea7294479e4b2025-08-20T01:50:56ZengMary Ann LiebertPalliative Medicine Reports2689-28202025-01-016115316010.1089/pmr.2024.0108Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative CareMichel Dorval0Sue-Ling Chang1Houman Farzin2Olivia Nguyen3Jean-François Stephan4Diane Tapp5Pierre Deschamps6Yann Joly7Florence Moureaux8Robert Foxman9Marianne Masse-Grenier10Jean-Sébastien Fallu11Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada.Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada.Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada.Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.Family Physician and Psychotherapist in Private Practice, Montréal, QC, Canada.Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada.McGill Research Group on Health and Law, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.Patient Partner, Montréal, QC, Canada.Patient Partner, Montréal, QC, Canada.Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada.School of Psychoeducation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy represents a promising addition to palliative care interventions, potentially improving quality of life by addressing existential distress. Despite its safety and effectiveness, this therapy remains limited in Canada, underscoring the need for improved access to ease suffering from life-threatening illnesses. However, important questions remain regarding how to integrate psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy into existing health care frameworks, navigate regulatory challenges, and ensure equitable access for all patients. These unanswered questions highlight the complexity of expanding access and the need for thoughtful, informed approaches to its implementation. To address this, the P3A team (Psilocybin at End of Life: Audacity, Acceptability, Access) held a forum on March 22, 2024, in Quebec, Canada, to explore actionable steps for the responsible use and equitable access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. A total of 57 participants with knowledge in palliative care, including professional and patient associations, patients, health care professionals, researchers, and policymakers, attended the event, which featured presentations, a panel discussion, and small-group workshops. This report provides 16 recommendations across six previously identified key topics: (1) patient eligibility and equity, (2) regulatory framework and respect for autonomy, (3) logistical and organizational aspects, (4) professional education and training, (5) public awareness and information, and (6) research. The elements and recommendations discussed in this article could offer valuable insights for expanding access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in other jurisdictions, particularly in global contexts where similar barriers to care exist.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0108existential distresspsilocybin-assisted therapyrecommendations |
| spellingShingle | Michel Dorval Sue-Ling Chang Houman Farzin Olivia Nguyen Jean-François Stephan Diane Tapp Pierre Deschamps Yann Joly Florence Moureaux Robert Foxman Marianne Masse-Grenier Jean-Sébastien Fallu Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care Palliative Medicine Reports existential distress psilocybin-assisted therapy recommendations |
| title | Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care |
| title_full | Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care |
| title_fullStr | Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care |
| title_short | Roadmap for Equitable Access and Responsible Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care |
| title_sort | roadmap for equitable access and responsible use of psilocybin assisted psychotherapy in palliative care |
| topic | existential distress psilocybin-assisted therapy recommendations |
| url | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0108 |
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