Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA may offer significant relief for patients with advanced cancer experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms, according to recent research. Current prescription antidepressants have been found to be ineffective in reducing depressive symptoms in cancer patients compared to a placebo.
However, in a meta-analysis of five clinical trials examining anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with advanced forms of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, researchers found that psychedelic medication alone significantly reduced depression and anxiety scores.
In one trial of 51 cancer patients, 60% of those who received a single high-dose psilocybin session achieved clinical remission for depression, while 52% did for anxiety. In comparison, only 16% of those who received a placebo achieved remission for depression, and 12% did for anxiety. The effects were still maintained six months later.
Psychedelic therapy sessions may be more effective than traditional prescription antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil) due to the trauma associated with receiving a cancer diagnosis and experiencing adverse effects from treatments. Patients can develop cancer-related post-traumatic stress disorder, and those who develop PTSD from military service or physical or sexual violence commonly experience depression and anxiety. Research has shown that MDMA-facilitated psychotherapy can effectively reduce PTSD symptoms by allowing patients to be willing and able to share traumatic memories to help process them.
Despite the promising results, there are limitations to the available research that could bias the results. For instance, some of the advanced cancer studies included people with a history of psychedelic use, who may be more likely to participate in the studies than those who experienced a “bad trip” or were opposed to recreational drugs altogether.
Furthermore, psychedelic sessions caused large increases in blood pressure, which may not be ideal for patients with poorly controlled hypertension or heart disease.
In addition, the potential benefits of psychedelics are still limited to a very narrow range of conditions. So far, most studies have focused on treating depression, anxiety and addiction. More research is needed to see if psychedelic-assisted therapy could be beneficial for other mental health disorders or physical ailments. Finally, there is concern that some recreational users may misuse psychedelics in an effort to self-medicate without the guidance of a trained healthcare professional. This could lead to more serious risks such as psychosis or suicide.
Further research is needed to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic treatments for patients with other life-threatening diseases that cause trauma, anxiety, or depression. If the Food and Drug Administration approves psychedelics for this kind of use, the agency would need to determine how they can be used legally, given that Schedule 1 drugs are currently banned from any medical use in the U.S. However, the FDA has already set a precedent with its approval of cannabadiol (Epidiolex) for the treatment of rare childhood seizure disorders, despite it being banned by the Drug Enforcement Administration.