In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. James Downar, a leading Canadian voice in palliative and critical care, for a wide-ranging discussion on the emerging role of psychedelics in managing psychological and existential distress.
Psychedelics have gone from fringe to forefront in recent years, and we dig into what that shift might mean for patients facing critical illness or the end of life.
What psychedelics are and how they work
Substances like psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and MDMA
Key effects: altered perception, ego dissolution, and emotional insight
Risks and benefits in vulnerable populations
Psychedelic-assisted therapy: structure and process
The three-phase model: preparation, the session itself, and integration
Micro dosing vs. full therapeutic sessions
Where current evidence stands
Potential applications in critical care and palliative medicine
Helping patients process fear, isolation, and suffering
How psychedelics differ from traditional symptom management tools like opioids
Limitations in advanced illness due to physiological concerns
Research and implementation challenges
Problems with study design and placebo controls
The importance of ‘set and setting’
Defining success in existential or spiritual distress
Ethical considerations and clinical integration
Balancing innovation with compassion and caution
Avoiding reductionism: why psychedelics should complement—not replace—human care
The future role of these therapies in ICU and palliative settings
