Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40691578›Full record

ArticleRadiation oncology (London, England)2025

Radiation therapy patients' interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy: results of a survey.

Jino Park, Rufus Banks, Akul Munjal, Krishna Hanubal, Nicholas Peterson, Garrett Harada, Michael A Hoyt, Erin H Healy, Jeremy P Harris

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Radiation oncology (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Oncology Providers' Perspectives on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.The American journal of hospice & palliative care · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jino ParkDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA. jinop@hs.uci.edu.
Rufus BanksUniversity of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Akul MunjalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
Krishna HanubalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
Nicholas PetersonDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
Garrett HaradaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
Michael A HoytDepartment of Population Health and Disease Prevention, University of California Irvine, Ivrine, CA, USA.
Erin H HealyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
Jeremy P HarrisDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.

Funding

Univ.of Calif., Irvine Cancer Center Support GrantP30CA062203 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · PI Melanie Funes · 1994 to 2026
$57.9M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA062203
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComorbid mental health symptoms impact 30-40% of cancer patients, significantly compromising treatment adherence and increasing mortality rates. Among patients undergoing radiation therapy, which is delivered with palliative intent in nearly half of all cases and for those nearing end-of-life, these rates may be even higher. Emerging research underscores the promising potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in alleviating cancer-related psychological distress. However, the perspectives of cancer patients on the therapeutic utility of psychedelics remain unexplored. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Adult patients with a cancer diagnosis were recruited in Radiation Oncology Clinic between May 2023 and August 2024. They included patients being evaluated before, during, or after radiation therapy. Data on demographics, medical history, prior psychedelic use, and measures of mental health burden and quality of life using validated questionnaires were collected to assess interest in PAT and factors associated with such interest.

results100 patients enrolled in the study. 43% expressed interest in PAT, while 31% were opposed, and 26% were unsure. Prior diagnoses of mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, prior recreational psychedelic use, younger age, and male sex were positively associated with interest in PAT. Notably, patients with higher levels of depression, worse spiritual well-being, worse demoralization, worse quality of life, and more pain, symptoms that are targeted with PAT, were more likely to be receptive to it. Hesitancy was primarily attributed to a lack of information, cited by 43% of those not interested or unsure.

conclusionPsychedelic-assisted therapy represents a promising avenue to address critical gaps in cancer-related mental health care, and this study suggests that a substantial portion of cancer patients are receptive to and curious about this approach. The primary barrier to acceptance is informational, emphasizing the need for further research and education to dispel misconceptions and increase awareness of the safety and efficacy of psychedelic therapies. Future work should explore provider perspectives, patient outcomes, and the integration of PAT into palliative care frameworks.

Indexed as

HallucinogensNeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQuality of LifeSurveys and QuestionnairesHallucinogensCancer-related anxietyDepressionMental health symptomsPalliative carePsychedelic-assisted therapyRadiation therapy

Identifiers

PMID40691578
PMCPMC12281839

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.