Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment and RelationaL (PEARL) Therapy for Patients With Advanced Cancer

Summary

The PEARL Pilot is a phase II open-label trial. Participants will receive a single high-dose (25 mg) of psilocybin in the context of Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment and RelationaL (PEARL) therapy.

Timeline

Start

2024-06-06

Primary completion

2026-12-15

Completion

2026-12-15

Publications

• Background Albers G, Echteld MA, de Vet HC, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, van der Linden MH, Deliens L. Evaluation of quality-of-life measures for use in palliative care: a systematic review. Palliat Med. 2010 Jan;24(1):17-37. doi: 10.1177/0269216309346593. Epub 2009 Oct 20.
• Background Breitbart W, Rosenfeld B, Gibson C, Pessin H, Poppito S, Nelson C, Tomarken A, Timm AK, Berg A, Jacobson C, Sorger B, Abbey J, Olden M. Meaning-centered group psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Psychooncology. 2010 Jan;19(1):21-8. doi: 10.1002/pon.1556.
• Background 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.
• Background Grossman CH, Brooker J, Michael N, Kissane D. Death anxiety interventions in patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review. Palliat Med. 2018 Jan;32(1):172-184. doi: 10.1177/0269216317722123. Epub 2017 Aug 8.
• Background Kissane DW, Wein S, Love A, Lee XQ, Kee PL, Clarke DM. The Demoralization Scale: a report of its development and preliminary validation. J Palliat Care. 2004 Winter;20(4):269-76.
• Background Krause S, Rydall A, Hales S, Rodin G, Lo C. Initial validation of the Death and Dying Distress Scale for the assessment of death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015 Jan;49(1):126-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.04.012. Epub 2014 May 28.
• Background Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.
• Background Lo C, Hales S, Zimmermann C, Gagliese L, Rydall A, Rodin G. Measuring death-related anxiety in advanced cancer: preliminary psychometrics of the Death and Dying Distress Scale. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2011 Oct;33 Suppl 2:S140-5. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e318230e1fd.
• Background Morita T, Murata H, Kishi E, Miyashita M, Yamaguchi T, Uchitomi Y; Japanese Spiritual Care Task Force. Meaninglessness in terminally ill cancer patients: a randomized controlled study. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2009 Apr;37(4):649-58. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.04.017. Epub 2008 Oct 1.
• Background Rodin G, Lo C, Mikulincer M, Donner A, Gagliese L, Zimmermann C. Pathways to distress: the multiple determinants of depression, hopelessness, and the desire for hastened death in metastatic cancer patients. Soc Sci Med. 2009 Feb;68(3):562-9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.10.037. Epub 2008 Dec 7.
• Background Rodin G, Lo C, Rydall A, Shnall J, Malfitano C, Chiu A, Panday T, Watt S, An E, Nissim R, Li M, Zimmermann C, Hales S. Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM): A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Psychological Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Aug 10;36(23):2422-2432. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.1097. Epub 2018 Jun 29.
• Background Rosenfeld B, Breitbart W, Galietta M, Kaim M, Funesti-Esch J, Pessin H, Nelson CJ, Brescia R. The schedule of attitudes toward hastened death: Measuring desire for death in terminally ill cancer patients. Cancer. 2000 Jun 15;88(12):2868-75. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(20000615)88:123.0.co;2-k.
• Background Smith KA, Harvath TA, Goy ER, Ganzini L. Predictors of pursuit of physician-assisted death. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015 Mar;49(3):555-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.06.010. Epub 2014 Aug 10.
• Background Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.
• Background Steinhauser KE, Clipp EC, Bosworth HB, McNeilly M, Christakis NA, Voils CI, Tulsky JA. Measuring quality of life at the end of life: validation of the QUAL-E. Palliat Support Care. 2004 Mar;2(1):3-14. doi: 10.1017/s1478951504040027.
• Richardson C, Chan C, Macgregor E, Hare C, Hannon B, Black S, Schneider E, Buchman D, Wang S, Rac V, Abrahamyan L, Huszti E, Nissim R, Li M, Zimmermann C, Hapke E, Rosenbaum D, Hales S. Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment and RelationaL (PEARL) therapy for patients with advanced cancer: protocol for a multi-method feasibility trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2025 Oct 28;11(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s40814-025-01706-5.

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