The Canadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy

🍄 What changes after a first psilocybin experience? 🍄

In this exploratory study, researchers followed 28 healthy adults with no prior psychedelic experience before and after a single high-dose (25 mg) psilocybin session.

One month later, participants demonstrated three notable changes:

💡 Greater psychological insight
Participants reported significantly higher levels of insight into themselves and their experiences.

😊 Improved well-being
Researchers observed improvements in psychological well-being that persisted for at least one month after the session.

🔄 Greater cognitive flexibility
Participants showed improved performance on an objective measure of cognitive flexibility.

Interestingly, the study also found that self-reported greater psychological insight after the session compared to beforehand was associated with improved well-being one month later, suggesting that the meaning people derive from an experience may play an important role in lasting change.

While these findings are promising, this was a small exploratory study conducted in healthy volunteers. More research is needed to understand how these findings may apply to clinical populations and therapeutic settings.

Don’t forget to save me for another date!

📖 SOURCE
Lyons T, Spriggs M, Kerkelä L, Rosas FE, Roseman L, Mediano PAM, Timmermann C, Oestreich L, Pagni BA, Zeifman RJ, Hampshire A, Trender W, Douglass HM, Girn M, Godfrey K, Kettner H, Sharif F, Espasiano L, Gazzaley A, Wall MB, Erritzoe D, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. Human brain changes after first psilocybin use. Nature Communications. 2026;17:3977. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71962-3

👉 Psychedelic-assisted therapy is being studied for more than depression and anxiety alone.

In cancer care, research has explored how psychedelics may help support some of the deep emotional and existential challenges that can arise during and after a diagnosis—including fear of death, hopelessness, demoralization, and loss of meaning.

These experiences are common in people facing serious illness, yet they are often difficult to talk about and even harder to treat with conventional approaches alone.

This pocket guide highlights some of the symptoms and experiences currently being explored in psychedelic-assisted cancer therapy research.

At CAN-PACT, our work focuses on advancing evidence-based psychedelic-assisted cancer therapy research in Canada through collaboration, patient partnership, and supportive care innovation.

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📖 Sources:
Ross S, Agin-Liebes G, Lo S, et al. Acute and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: An open-label safety and feasibility pilot study. EClinicalMedicine. 2022;48:101433. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101433

Reiche S, Hermle L, Gutwinski S, Jungaberle H, Gasser P, Majić T. Serotonergic hallucinogens in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from a life-threatening disease: A systematic review. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 2018;81:1–10. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.012

Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, et al. Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2016;30(12):1181–1197. doi:10.1177/0269881116675513

M**A and L*D are often grouped together in public conversations about psychedelics—but the experiences they produce are commonly described in very different ways.

Research suggests that M**A is more often associated with emotional openness, empathy, connection, sociability, and positive mood, while L*D is more commonly linked to altered perception, visual and sensory changes, introspection, and shifts in consciousness.

Understanding these differences is important when discussing research, therapeutic models, and how different substances may affect people in different ways. While they are sometimes discussed under the same umbrella, they are not interchangeable experiences.

Experiences can vary based on the person, dose, environment, and level of support provided. Research in this area is still evolving.

What comparison should we break down next?

📖 Source:
Holze F, Vizeli P, Ley L, Müller F, Dolder P, Stocker M, Duthaler U, Varghese N, Eckert A, Borgwardt S, Liechti ME. Distinct acute effects of L*D, M**A, and D-amphetamine in healthy subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020;45(3):462–471. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0569-3

🍄 Psilocybin therapy isn’t just “taking a dose.” 🍄

It’s a structured, supported experience shaped by preparation, the environment, and what happens afterward. From guided support throughout the session to integration the next day, each element plays a role in how the experience unfolds and is understood.

This pocket guide highlights some of the key expectations going in—so you have a clearer sense of what’s involved.

📩 Want more research, tools, and updates on psychedelic-assisted therapy in cancer care?
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✨ Stay tuned for an upcoming infographic breaking down the full dosing session and step-by-step process. ✨

🍄 Psilocybin and ketamine are often discussed in the same conversation—but they typically do not produce the same experience. While both are being studied in mental health care, the subjective effects people report can differ in important ways.

Psilocybin experiences are often described with words like connection, insight, emotion, reflection, and meaning. Ketamine experiences are more often described as dissociation, detachment, floating, or feeling distanced from usual patterns of thinking.

Why does this matter? Research suggests the subjective experience itself may be part of the therapeutic process—and that relationships in experiences may differ between substances. Understanding these differences can help support more informed conversations about research, care models, and future directions in the field.

Experiences vary by person, dose, setting, and support. More research is still needed.

👉 What comparison should we break down next?

📖 Source
Dahan JDC, Dadiomov D, Bostoen T, Dahan A. Meta-correlation of the effect of ketamine and psilocybin induced subjective effects on therapeutic outcome. NPJ Mental Health Research. 2024;3:45. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00091-w

Psilocybin (from “magic mushrooms”) is often talked about in headlines, but there’s still a lot of confusion about what it is—and how it’s being studied. This quick guide breaks down some of the basics: what type of substance it is, where current research is focused, how treatment models may be structured, how long sessions may last, and why care settings matter.

Current research has explored psilocybin in areas such as depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and substance use disorders. Many study models include preparation, professional support during the session(s), and integration afterward. That structure is important, especially when people have questions or hesitation about safety, support, and what these settings actually look like.

As with any emerging area of research, findings are still evolving. Experiences and outcomes can vary based on the person, dose, environment, and level of support provided.

Don’t forget to save, share, & follow!

Source:
Dahan JDC, Dadiomov D, Bostoen T, Dahan A. Meta-correlation of the effect of ketamine and psilocybin induced subjective effects on therapeutic outcome. NPJ Mental Health Research. 2024;3:45. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00091-w

Demoralization can feel like hopelessness (Why bother? Nothing’s going to get better), helplessness (I’m too exhausted to try), loss of meaning (What’s the point?), or feeling like you can’t cope anymore (it’s overwhelming). It can happen during serious illness, especially when life feels uncertain or support is delayed, but it doesn’t have to stay this way.

While professional care is important, it’s not always readily available. In the meantime, small steps may help you get through the day:

✨ Keep a daily routine – get out of bed, prepare a simple meal, have a cup of tea, get outside
✨ Reconnect with what matters – check in with your core values
✨ Talk to someone you trust – call a friend or family member, spend time with a pet
✨ Practice self-compassion – remember you’re doing your best
✨ Reach out for professional support – many cancer centres have free psychosocial support

These strategies are not a replacement for mental health care, but they may offer support while you wait for your appointment.

If your distress feels overwhelming, worsens, or you feel unsafe, contact your care team, local crisis supports, or emergency services right away.

📖 Source:
Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. How-To Guide: Demoralization. 2024.https://clpsychiatry.org/wp-content/uploads/ACLP-How-to-guide-Demoralization-2024.pdf

Big ideas need strong leadership. Today we’re recognizing the Principal Investigators helping guide CAN-PACT and shape the future of supportive cancer care in Canada.

✨ Dr. Linda E. Carlson
A leader in psychosocial and integrative oncology, Dr. Carlson has helped advance research and education in whole-person cancer care. Her work has expanded conversations around mindfulness, supportive care, and the importance of addressing emotional wellbeing alongside physical treatment.

✨ Dr. Ronald Shore
Dr. Shore brings a vital lens to this work through culture, history, ethics, and interdisciplinary scholarship. His contributions help ensure conversations around psychedelics in healthcare are thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in broader social context.

✨ Dr. Harriet Richardson
With deep expertise in oncology and clinical research, Dr. Richardson helps bridge innovation with real-world cancer care. Her leadership supports the rigorous, patient-centered research needed to move new approaches forward responsibly.

Together, their leadership is helping build the foundations for research, training, and future care pathways in psychedelic-assisted cancer therapy across Canada.

☝️ Follow along as the network continues to grow.
💬 Sign up for our Newsletter, Link in Bio! ☝️

👉 Not all treatments for depression look the same.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are commonly prescribed treatments for depression. They are taken daily and work gradually by affecting serotonin levels in the brain, with effects typically building over time.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy, on the other hand, is being studied in clinical trials as a different novel approach. Rather than ongoing medication, it involves a small number of sessions administering a high dose of psilocybin, supported by trained professionals, with psychological support provided before, during, and after the experience.

Research comparing psilocybin with escitalopram (a common SSRI) suggests that both approaches may reduce symptoms of depression. In one clinical trial, there was no significant difference in the primary depression outcome at 6 weeks, though some differences were observed in measures of well-being and functioning.

These approaches differ in how quickly they act, how they are experienced, side effects, and the level of support involved in treatment.

Psilocybin is not currently an approved treatment for depression in Canada and is only available in regulated research settings.

As research continues, the goal is to better understand how different approaches may support people living with depression — and which may be most appropriate for different individuals.

📚️ Sources:
Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Rucker J, et al. Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;384:1402–1411.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032994
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032994

Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, et al. Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression: 6-month follow-up. EClinicalMedicine. 2024.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102401
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00378-X/fulltext

Edinoff AN, et al. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. StatPearls Publishing. 2021.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/