Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in the Management of Anxiety and Depression Among Cancer Patients

Authors

• Caleb Lemus, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Psychiatry

Advisor

Debra S. Munsell

Abstract

Psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, is common among people with cancer and is often worsened by existential worries about mortality, loss of meaning, and decreased quality of life. Standard treatments, including medication and psychotherapy, often offer limited or short-term relief, highlighting the need for new, integrative psychosocial oncology approaches. Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has shown promise in addressing both mood symptoms and existential distress. This review aims to summarize current evidence on the role of psilocybin therapy in managing anxiety and depression in cancer patients. It includes findings from randomized controlled trials, long-term follow-up studies, and feasibility research on psilocybin within structured psychotherapeutic frameworks, sourced from electronic databases. Overall, psilocybin therapy is linked to quick and meaningful reductions in anxiety and depression, often after just one or two supervised doses. These clinical improvements are supported by the Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics (REBUS) model, which suggests that psilocybin facilitates a relaxation of rigid, maladaptive cognitive patterns while promoting neuroplasticity. This allows for a significant shift in perspective regarding mortality and existential distress. These benefits are long-lasting, with improvements remaining months after treatment. Patients also report improved psychological well-being, emotional acceptance, and a stronger sense of meaning, indicating benefits beyond mood stabilization. This review identifies the importance of preparatory counseling, therapeutic support during dosing, and post-session integration to maximize results, emphasizing psilocybin’s role as a catalyst in psychotherapy rather than as a stand-alone drug. When administered in controlled clinical environments with proper screening and monitoring, psilocybin exhibits a favorable safety profile, although psychological risks necessitate careful oversight. Situating these findings within psychosocial oncology and palliative care, this review emphasizes psilocybin therapy’s potential to meet unmet mental health needs in cancer patients. Limitations such as small sample sizes, homogenous populations, and regulatory hurdles are acknowledged. Overall, the evidence supports PAT as an emerging intervention with significant clinical potential, meriting further research into long-term effects, scalability, and integration into comprehensive cancer care.

Recommended Citation

Lemus C. Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in the Management of Anxiety and Depression Among Cancer Patients. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(1).