Prof Torsten Passie - LSD-assisted psychotherapy: Anxiety associated with life threatening disease

LSD-assisted psychotherapy addresses existential anxiety and fear of death in patients with life-threatening diagnoses. This approach facilitates a confrontational process with inner fears, often leading to a cathartic peak followed by a significant emotional shift from fear to trust. The therapeutic framework is guided by the understanding that a frame change regarding the disease is essential, allowing patients to move beyond isolation toward a more positive inner connection. Qualitative research indicates that patients experience reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and greater emotional access. These states of consciousness appear to arise from unconstrained cognition and a potential temporary realignment of brain structures such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which may help mitigate fear responses. Longitudinal follow-ups reveal that these improvements, particularly in state anxiety, remain stable long after the sessions are completed.