Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42311441›Full record

ArticlePsychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)2026

Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Among Patients with Advanced Cancer and Depression: Rationale and Preliminary Evaluation of MCP-PSIL.

William E Rosa, Stephanie Napolitano, Natalie McAndrew, Betsy Jenkins, Wendy G Lichtenthal, Allison J Applebaum, William Breitbart, Manish Agrawal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

William E RosaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0680-8911
Stephanie NapolitanoDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
Natalie McAndrewCollege of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Betsy JenkinsSunstone Therapies, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Wendy G LichtenthalDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Allison J ApplebaumDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
William BreitbartDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Manish AgrawalSunstone Therapies, Rockville, Maryland, USA.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Psilocybin shows encouraging outcomes for patients with cancer and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there is insufficient evidence on the use of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions to consistently guide and standardize psilocybin preparation, dosing, and integration. Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is a manualized, brief psychotherapeutic intervention that enhances meaning and purpose among recipients. This article substantiates the rationale for using MCP as a psychotherapeutic intervention to accompany psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with psilocybin for patients with cancer and MDD. Materials and Methods: We sampled seven patients with cancer and MDD who previously received PAT with psilocybin followed by group MCP in a phase 2 open-label trial, as well as six therapists who delivered the interventions. First, electronic open-ended response surveys were distributed to explore participant experiences during the phase 2 trial and elicit recommendations to adapt MCP for psilocybin. Second, the research team developed a 5-session model of MCP and psilocybin therapy (MCP-PSIL) based on survey responses. Finally, four focus groups were conducted (two with patients and two with therapists) to expand on patient experiences during the phase 2 trial and gather feedback on MCP-PSIL. Results: Seven patients (ages 53-80 years) and six therapists (mental health professional experience ranging 9-44 years) participated in both surveys and focus groups. Focus groups underscored the value of experiences related to psilocybin, the group, and MCP, as distinct elements and in conjunction. Participants shared key recommendations to enhance combined psilocybin and MCP experiences and the 5-session MCP-PSIL model. The importance of the group format was also emphasized while noting that individual MCP may be indicated in certain circumstances. Conclusion: Findings suggest that MCP is a natural therapeutic partner to guide patients throughout the PAT continuum. As MCP-PSIL is tested in the future, we anticipate MCP will leverage the PAT experience by building therapist capacity to optimize care while reducing avoidable distress for patients and maximizing their meaning-making opportunities.

Indexed as

cancergroup therapymajor depressive disordermeaning-centered psychotherapypsilocybinpsychedelic-assisted therapy

Identifiers

PMID42311441
PMCPMC13271188

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.