Cancer and end-of-life distress psychedelic and ketamine research trials
Data as of 11 October 2026. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov records held by PsychoactiveMap, refreshed from a reviewed snapshot.
45 registered studies are counted for cancer-related and end-of-life distress. By compound: 33 psilocybin, 3 MDMA, 1 LSD and 10 ketamine. By registry status: 15 recruiting, 3 not yet recruiting, 4 active, not recruiting, 14 completed, 3 terminated, 4 withdrawn and 2 status not reported. By phase: 8 early phase 1, 10 phase 1, 24 phase 2, 1 phase 3, 1 phase 4 and 1 not reported. Reported start years run from 2004 (earliest) to 2026 (latest).
Studies are matched when the title names palliative care, end of life, hospice, demoralization or a life-threatening illness, or pairs cancer with anxiety, depression, distress or psychotherapy. Cancer pain and chemotherapy side effects are not matched. Studies are matched by keyword on the title as registered, so a study can be missed and a study that mentions the condition only in passing can be included. A study tagged with more than one compound is counted under each compound. Ketamine studies are counted only when PsychoactiveMap classifies them as psychiatric research; anaesthesia, sedation and pain studies are left out.
Educational information, not medical advice. A registry listing is not evidence of safety, benefit or results, and it is not a recommendation. PsychoactiveMap does not recruit, screen or refer participants. Status and other details are copied from the registry and can be out of date, so check the registry record and speak to a qualified health professional before any decision. Read the full disclaimer.
At a glance
- 45 registered studies are counted on this page.
By compound
| Compound hub | Studies |
|---|---|
| Psilocybin | 33 |
| MDMA | 3 |
| LSD | 1 |
| Ketamine | 10 |
By registry status
| Status | Studies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting | 15 | 33% |
| Not yet recruiting | 3 | 7% |
| Active, not recruiting | 4 | 9% |
| Completed | 14 | 31% |
| Terminated | 3 | 7% |
| Withdrawn | 4 | 9% |
| Status not reported | 2 | 4% |
By phase
| Phase | Studies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Early Phase 1 | 8 | 18% |
| Phase 1 | 10 | 22% |
| Phase 2 | 24 | 53% |
| Phase 3 | 1 | 2% |
| Phase 4 | 1 | 2% |
| Not reported | 1 | 2% |
Countries
Country is taken from the study's linked research site. 2 of 45 records have no country on file. The top 6 countries are shown.
| Country | Studies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 30 | 67% |
| Canada | 8 | 18% |
| Switzerland | 2 | 4% |
| Australia | 1 | 2% |
| Mexico | 1 | 2% |
| Sweden | 1 | 2% |
When studies started
| Start year | Studies |
|---|---|
| 2024 to 2026 | 21 |
| 2020 to 2023 | 13 |
| 2015 to 2019 | 5 |
| 2010 to 2014 | 2 |
| Before 2010 | 4 |
Study design
- 44 interventional and 1 observational studies.
- Median planned or actual enrolment is 23 participants (range 1 to 200, across 42 records that report it).
Registered studies
All counted studies, newest start first. The order is not a ranking and says nothing about quality. Titles are quoted from the registry. Each ID links to its own ClinicalTrials.gov record, which has the eligibility criteria and contacts.
| Title as registered | Registry ID | Status | Phase | Start | Compound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MB-PAT for Demoralization in Advanced Cancer ('PAT-MIND') Trial | NCT07791901 | Not yet recruiting | Phase 2 | 2026-10-30 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment and RelationaL (PEARL) Therapy for Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial | NCT07820033 | Not yet recruiting | Phase 2 | 2026-09-14 | Psilocybin |
| Group Retreat Psilocybin Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors or Incurable Hematologic Malignancies | NCT07336238 | Active, not recruiting | Phase 2 | 2026-04-01 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin Microdose for Psychological and Existential Distress in Palliative Care (PSYCHED-PAL-RCT) | NCT07063862 | Recruiting | Phase 3 | 2026-01-01 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | NCT07216404 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2026-01-01 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Cancer Patients With Adjustment Disorder | NCT07072728 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2025-10-01 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment and RelationaL (PEARL) Therapy for Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer | NCT07048743 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2025-07-02 | Psilocybin |
| TRIPS - Treatment to Improve Depression and/or Anxiety Using Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy in Cancer Survivors | NCT06801041 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2025-05-23 | Psilocybin |
| Effects of Intranasal Ketamine on Depression and Anxiety in Palliative Care Cancer Patients | NCT06665568 | Not yet recruiting | Early Phase 1 | 2025-04-01 | Ketamine |
| Psilocybin Therapy for Psychological Distress in Palliative Patients | NCT06782724 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2025-03-01 | Psilocybin |
| Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy for Demoralization Syndrome in Patients Diagnosed With Advanced Stage Cancer | NCT06818994 | Recruiting | Phase 1 | 2025-03-01 | Psilocybin |
| Pragmatic Trial of Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care | NCT05403086 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2025-01-19 | Psilocybin, Ketamine |
| Study of Psilocybin Assisted Psychotherapy to Address Fear of Recurrence | NCT06430541 | Recruiting | Phase 1 | 2024-11-21 | Psilocybin |
| A Second Psilocybin Group Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Anxiety in Partial Responders With Metastatic Cancer | NCT06644170 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2024-11-19 | Psilocybin |
| Veteran's Perceptions of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression and End-of-Life | NCT06824532 | Recruiting | Not reported | 2024-11-08 | Ketamine |
| Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in Palliative Care | NCT05883540 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2024-06-09 | Psilocybin, LSD |
| Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment and RelationaL (PEARL) Therapy for Patients With Advanced Cancer | NCT06416085 | Active, not recruiting | Phase 2 | 2024-06-06 | Psilocybin |
| Ketamine-assisted Therapy for Advanced GI Cancer | NCT06077487 | Terminated | Phase 4 | 2024-05-17 | Ketamine |
| Cancer Related Major Depression Treated With a Single Dose of Psilocybin | NCT06319378 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2024-04-17 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Patients With Advanced Cancer on Maintenance Therapy | NCT06200155 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2024-04-16 | Psilocybin |
| PSilocybin for psYCHological and Existential Distress in PALliative Care (PSYCHED-PAL) | NCT04754061 | Active, not recruiting | Phase 1 | 2024-01-08 | Psilocybin |
| Ketamine-Assisted PsychoTherapy ViAbility in Treating Cancer-related Emotional Distress | NCT05344625 | Withdrawn | Early Phase 1 | 2023-10-31 | Ketamine |
| Two Doses of Psilocybin for the Treatment of MDD in Adults With Cancer | NCT05947383 | Active, not recruiting | Phase 2 | 2023-10-23 | Psilocybin |
| A Community of Practice Program With Psilocybin-assisted Therapy for End-of-Life Patients | NCT05958758 | Status not reported | Early Phase 1 | 2023-09-01 | Psilocybin |
| Exploratory Study of Low Dose Psilocybin | NCT05227742 | Withdrawn | Early Phase 1 | 2023-08-15 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Anxiety in Patients With Metastatic Cancer | NCT05847686 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2023-06-27 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin Therapy in Advanced Cancer | NCT05398484 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2023-05-24 | Psilocybin |
| Palliadelic Treatment to Reduce Psychological Distress in Persons With Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancers | NCT05220046 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2023-04-10 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin Combined With Multidisciplinary Palliative Care in Demoralized Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain | NCT05506982 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2022-11-01 | Psilocybin |
| Feasibility Study of Oral Ketamine Versus Placebo for the Treatment of Anxiety in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer | NCT05086250 | Completed | Early Phase 1 | 2022-10-20 | Ketamine |
| MDMA-assisted Therapy for Adjustment Disorder (AD) in Dyads of Patients With Cancer and a Concerned Significant Other | NCT05584826 | Recruiting | Phase 2 | 2022-10-06 | MDMA |
| Pilot Study of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Demoralization in Patients Receiving Hospice Care | NCT04950608 | Completed | Phase 2 | 2022-03-09 | Psilocybin |
| Study of Psilocybin Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients With Cancer | NCT04522804 | Completed | Early Phase 1 | 2021-10-04 | Psilocybin |
| The Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin in Cancer Patients With Major Depressive Disorder | NCT04593563 | Status not reported | Phase 2 | 2020-09-01 | Psilocybin |
| Ketamine or Placebo in Patients With Major Depression and Advanced Cancer | NCT04471818 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2019-09-19 | Ketamine |
| Study of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care | NCT03410446 | Completed | Phase 2 | 2018-07-16 | Ketamine |
| Psilocybin-assisted Group Therapy for Demoralization in Long-term AIDS Survivors | NCT02950467 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2018-01-05 | Psilocybin |
| Ketamine for Preventing Depression in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Pancreatic or Head and Neck Cancers | NCT02442739 | Withdrawn | Early Phase 1 | 2016-08-15 | Ketamine |
| MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With a Life-Threatening Illness | NCT02427568 | Completed | Phase 2 | 2015-05-14 | MDMA |
| Oral Ketamine in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Cancer | NCT01680172 | Terminated | Phase 2 | 2012-08-01 | Ketamine |
| Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety in People With Stage IV Melanoma | NCT00979693 | Withdrawn | Phase 2 | 2012-01-01 | Psilocybin |
| Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study | NCT00957359 | Completed | Early Phase 1 | 2009-02-01 | Psilocybin |
| Psychopharmacology of Psilocybin in Cancer Patients | NCT00465595 | Completed | Phase 2 | 2007-04-01 | Psilocybin |
| MDMA-assisted Therapy in People With Anxiety Related to Advanced Stage Cancer | NCT00252174 | Terminated | Phase 2 | 2007-02-01 | MDMA |
| Effects of Psilocybin in Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients With Anxiety | NCT00302744 | Completed | Phase 1 | 2004-04-01 | Psilocybin |
About this data
Compound tags come from automated matching of the registry search term and have not been checked record by record. Counts are of registered studies, not of people, results or approvals. A registry listing is not evidence of safety, benefit or results.
Substance hubs for these compounds
Psilocybin | MDMA | LSD | Ketamine
Other condition hubs
Depression | Treatment-resistant depression | Bipolar disorder | Post-traumatic stress disorder | Alcohol use disorder | Opioid use disorder | Tobacco and nicotine use | Cocaine and methamphetamine use | Anxiety | Obsessive-compulsive disorder | Eating disorders | Headache and migraine | Chronic pain | Suicidal ideation and suicide risk