Psilocybin Plus Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy Eases Cancer Depression

A new study shows the benefit of using meaning-centered psychotherapy with psilocybin-assisted therapy among patients with cancer and major depressive disorder (MDD).1

Research has shown the promise of psilocybin for patients with cancer and depression. A randomized, double-blind trial evaluating the effects of a low, placebo-like dose of 1 or 3 mg vs a high dose of 22 or 30 mg of psilocybin across 51 patients with cancer and depression found that high doses of psilocybin led to large decreases in clinician- and self-rated measures of depression, anxiety, and death anxiety.2 High-dose psilocybin also led to increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism.

The improvements were sustained at the 6-month follow-up, with 80% of participants continuing to show significant reductions in depressed mood and anxiety.2 Many participants attributed their improvements in attitudes, mood, relationships, and spirituality to the high-dose psilocybin.

A more recent study from NYU Langone Health found that psilocybin, accompanied by psychotherapy for cancer patients, significantly reduced anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, anger toward others, and physical symptoms associated with psychological distress.3 Improvements lasted up to 6 months.

Although research exists, evidence still falls short in supporting evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches to guide and standardize the preparation, dosing, and integration of psilocybin. In this new study, investigators assessed the use of meaning-centered psychotherapy alongside psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin for patients with cancer and MDD.1 The meaning-centered psychotherapy serves as a manualized, brief psychotherapeutic intervention.

“This article substantiates the rationale for using [meaning-centered psychotherapy] as a psychotherapeutic intervention to accompany psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin for patients with cancer and MDD,” wrote study investigator William E. Rosa, PhD, MBE, from the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and colleagues.1

The sample included 7 patients aged 53 – 80 years with cancer and MDD who previously received psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin, followed by group meaning-centered psychotherapy, in a phase 2 open-label trial. The study also included 6 therapists who delivered the interventions and had 9 – 44 years of mental health professional experience.1

During the phase 2 trial, participants completed electronic open-label response surveys to share their experiences with psilocybin. Along with collecting patient experiences, the surveys also aimed to elicit recommendations to adapt meaning-centered psychotherapy for psilocybin.1

Based on survey responses, investigators developed a 5-session model of meaning-centered psychotherapy and psilocybin therapy. Investigators also divided the participants into 4 focus groups—2 with patients and 2 with therapists—to gather more data on patient experiences on meaning-centered psychotherapy alongside psilocybin-assisted therapy. In the focus groups, participants described their experiences on each aspect of the intervention: the psilocybin, the group, and the meaning-centered psychotherapy.

“Findings suggest that [meaning-centered psychotherapy] is a natural therapeutic partner to guide patients throughout the [psychedelic-assisted therapy] continuum,” investigators concluded.1 “As [meaning-centered psychotherapy and psilocybin therapy] is tested in the future, we anticipate [meaning-centered psychotherapy] will leverage the [psychedelic-assisted therapy] experience by building therapist capacity to optimize care while reducing avoidable distress for patients and maximizing their meaning-making opportunities.”

A report last fall has showcased the demand for psilocybin-assisted therapy for MDD in the US.4The report stated that among the 14.8 million people in the US with MDD, 9 million receive symptom relief with treatments. Investigators estimated that in a real-world setting, 56% Americans with MDD would be eligible for psilocybin-assisted therapy, equating to 5.1 million patients with MDD.

“Our findings suggest that if the FDA gives the green light, psilocybin-assisted therapy has the potential to help millions of Americans who suffer from depression,” said Syed Fayzan Rab, the lead author of the report and an MD candidate at Emory University, in a statement.5 “This underscores the importance of understanding the practical realities of rolling out this novel treatment on a large scale.”

References

1. Rosa W, Napolitano S, McAndrew N, et al. Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Among Patients with Advanced Cancer and Depression: Rationale and Preliminary Evaluation of MCP-PSIL. Mary Ann Liebert. 2025. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/28314425251363983?download=true

2. Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, Umbricht A, Richards WA, Richards BD, Cosimano MP, Klinedinst MA. Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1181-1197. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675513. PMID: 27909165; PMCID: PMC5367557.

3. Psychedelic Drug Therapy May Address Mental Health Concerns in People with Cancer & Addiction. NYU Langone Health. January 2, 2025. https://nyulangone.org/news/psychedelic-drug-therapy-may-address-mental-health-concerns-people-cancer-addiction. Accessed August 26, 2025.

4. Derman, C. New Report Estimates Potential Demand of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for MDD. HCPLive. September 18, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/new-report-estimates-potential-demand-of-psilocybin-assisted-therapy-for-mdd. Accessed August 26, 2025.

5. Millions of depressed Americans could benefit from psychedelic therapy, study finds. EurekAlert! September 13, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1057531. Accessed August 26, 2025.