Canadian Non-profit, TheraPsil, in collaboration with researchers from McGill University and the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, launch quantitative psilocybin-therapy research study
November 8, 2021
TheraPsil has launched it’s first-ever research collaboration, a quantitative research study which aims to understand the impact of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy on Canadian patients who experience end-of-life distress and have received a section 56 exemption to legally use and possess psilocybin.
This study is a unique version of the Psychedelic Ceremony Study – a project developed and run by the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, led by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris – and this ‘section 56 study’ has been designed to gather data on Canadians receiving compassionate access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, via Section 56(1) exemptions, for distress related to potentially terminal illness.
This study is being conducted by Hannes Kettner (PhD cand.), Imperial College London, Dr. Kyle Greenway, senior resident in Psychiatry at McGill University, Dr. Ryan Patchett-Marble, generalist physician experienced in providing psilocybin-assisted treatment for end-of-life distress in Marathon, Ontario, and Dr. Shannon Dames, professor of nursing at Vancouver Island University.
“The study aims to collect quantitative data on the psychological effects of guided psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy sessions for patients experiencing end-of-life distress due to a potentially life-threatening illness. This research is important as it aims to provide data on how psilocybin-therapy is actually being carried out in the ‘real world’ in Canada, outside of the more rigid conditions of randomized controlled trials.” – Hannes Kettner, PhD Candidate, Imperial College London
“We are extremely excited about this research project, which aims to give Canadians receiving compassionate psilocybin access a chance to advance the science by sharing their unique experiences.” – Dr. Kyle Greenway, Senior resident in Psychiatry, McGill University
The study involves a series of online questionnaires about 2 weeks before, within 3 hours before, 1 day after, 4 weeks after, and 3 and 6 months after a legal, guided experience with psilocybin.
“The data we collect from this study will greatly help to advance the scientific understanding of psilocybin and how the diverse elements in guided use of psilocybin may facilitate psychological change in patients experiencing end-of-life distress. Major scientific subjects of interest include the impact of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy on mood, spirituality, and the desire for medical assistance in dying. The results have the potential to help develop future controlled studies on psychedelics, including clinical trials, and to enhance the safety of participants in psychedelic sessions.” – Julia Joyes, Director of Research, TheraPsil
Canadian patients experiencing end-of-life distress and who wish to apply for a section 56 exemption to legally access psilocybin therapy, are encouraged to sign up on the TheraPsil website here.
Patients supported by TheraPsil who already have a valid section 56 exemption to use and possess psilocybin for medical purposes, and who have not yet received treatment, can expect to soon receive an email from the TheraPsil team, regarding this research opportunity.
About TheraPsil
TheraPsil is a non-profit patient-advocacy coalition that advocates for legal, medical access to psilocybin and psilocybin therapy for Canadians in medical need. TheraPsil began its work helping patients apply for section 56 exemptions, granted by the Minister of Health, and is now also advocating for regulatory change to legalize psilocybin for medical purposes.
Media Contact:
Holly Bennett, Director of Communications, holly @ therapsil.ca
All other inquiries:
Spencer Hawkswell, CEO, spencer @ therapsil.ca
Learn more at TheraPsil.ca, and follow TheraPsil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
