The therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs has attracted no shortage of media and scientific interest over recent years – and this is only likely to grow.

A growing number of studies suggest psychedelics such as MDMA, better known as ecstasy, and psilocybin, the active in ingredient in magic mushrooms, can help treat some mental health conditions. Regulators in Australia and New Zealand have also begun allowing limited medical use of these medicines.

Now, researchers are exploring whether psychedelic therapy – typically combining measured doses with psychological treatment in a controlled setting – might help patients as they approach end of life.

Even when receiving the best available treatments, some palliative care patients report severe psychological and existential distress.

Up to one third of cancer patients, for instance, report experiencing anxiety and depression. While antidepressants are commonly used, their benefits can be inconsistent and delayed, and often accompanied by unwelcome side effects.

It’s here where psychedelic therapies offer a potentially promising alternative. Research into their use is advancing, with........

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