Acceptability of psilocybin‐assisted group therapy in patients with cancer and major depressive disorder: Qualitative analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background: The present study explored the acceptability of psilocybin‐assisted group therapy from the perspective of patients with cancer and depression who participated in a clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of this novel intervention. Methods: Guided by the conceptual framework of acceptability, the authors conducted semi‐structured interviews with participants of the psilocybin trial. Data were analyzed using template and thematic analyses. Results: Participants’ (n = 28) perspectives on the acceptability of the group and simultaneous sessions was generally positive, both in terms of safety and efficacy: first, the groups contributed to increase participants’ sense of safety and preparedness as they were engaging in the therapy; and second, the groups fostered a sense of connection and of belonging, which served to enrich and deepen the meaning of participants’ experience, ultimately opening a dimension of self‐transcendence and compassion. Other subthemes related to factors influencing the acceptability of the group approach included: 1) the importance of the therapeutic framework, 2) the complementary value of individual sessions, 3) disruptive factors related to the group and/or simultaneous setting, and 4) opportunities and challenges related to group size and how to structure interactions. Conclusions: This study enhances understanding of what promotes acceptability of the psilocybin‐assisted therapy group model for the treatment of MDD in cancer patients. Plain Language Summary: We conducted exit interviews with participants of a phase 2 trial of psilocybin‐assisted therapy (PAT) conducted in a community cancer center, to assess the acceptability of a novel psilocybin delivery model combining simultaneous individual therapy and group sessions. Our findings support the acceptability of this intervention and suggest that in addition to being feasible, it might also enhance participants’ perceived safety and efficacy compared to uniquely individual or group delivery models of PAT. Our analysis highlights critical factors conditioning acceptability and suggests new ways PAT may be scaled and integrated into cancer care.
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Some patients may experience a worsening of symptoms with psilocybin treatments.
“Despite the recent enthusiasm over psychedelics, studies (including the ones in this issue) show that not every patient will benefit from these treatments, and some patients may even experience a worsening of symptoms.”
From Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
In “Disruptive factors emerging from the group/simultaneous setting” (page not provided), one participant said the group format added anxiety to an experience they had hoped would be therapeutic. That supports a narrower account of increased anxiety during group therapy, but the paper does not report a worsening of patients’ depressive symptoms after psilocybin treatment; its Introduction instead reports sustained depressive-symptom responses in 80% of the trial participants. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA follow-up qualitative interview study was conducted among a subset of participants (N = 28) to explore participant acceptability of psilocybin-assisted group therapy.
“A follow-up qualitative interview study was conducted among a subset of participants in the trial (N = 28) to explore participant acceptability of psilocybin-assisted group therapy.15”
From Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
Specific benefits of the group format mentioned by participants included a feeling of safety and preparedness and a sense of connection to others in the group that may have supported treatment outcomes.
“Specific benefits of the group format mentioned by participants included a feeling of safety and preparedness and a sense of connection to others in the group that may have supported treatment outcomes.”
From Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
Participants in the qualitative study reported overall positive experiences with the group format, mirroring the improvement in quantitative outcomes.
“Participants reported overall positive experiences with the group format, mirroring the improvement in quantitative outcomes.”
From Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
Studies (including the ones in this issue) show that not every patient will benefit from psilocybin treatments.
“Despite the recent enthusiasm over psychedelics, studies (including the ones in this issue) show that not every patient will benefit from these treatments, and some patients may even experience a worsening of symptoms.”
From Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
Group-based delivery of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can also have drawbacks.
“However, despite these advantages, this study highlights that group-based delivery of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can also have drawbacks.”
From Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
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Innovations in group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depression in patients with cancer
Thrul, J., Kozak, Z., Carducci, M. A., Garcia‐Romeu, A., & Yaden, D. B. (2024) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.35127 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Beaussant, Y., Tarbi, E., Nigam, K., Miner, S., Sager, Z., Sanders, J. J., Ljuslin, M., Guérin, B., Thambi, P., Tulsky, J. A., & Agrawal, M.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Vermont (US)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
- McGill University (CA)
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Université de Franche-Comté (FR)
- Maryland Geological Survey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Beaussant, Yvan
- ORCID
- Venue
- Cancer
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2023-12-18
- Volume
- 130
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1147-1157
- ISSN
- 0008-543X (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0142
- OpenAlex
- W4389895437
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 7.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2025-07-18)
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- psilocybin-assisted therapy, group therapy, acceptability, cancer patients, major depressive disorder, psychedelic therapy, sense of belonging, self-transcendence, group size, therapeutic framework
- MeSH terms
- Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Neoplasms, Psilocybin, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy, Group
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