Perspectives and preliminary experiences of psychedelics for the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic scoping review.
European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association – September 01, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
A significant finding indicates that most participants in studies reported a meaningful reduction in eating disorder symptoms after psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Out of 1,290 initial publications, only 17 met the eligibility criteria, highlighting substantial gaps in research. While many expressed openness to psychedelics as a treatment option, concerns about potential adverse effects and the necessity for psychological support were noted. This emerging evidence suggests that psychedelics could be a promising avenue for treating eating disorders, though more rigorous studies are essential to validate these findings.
Abstract
Research regarding the therapeutic application of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders (EDs) has begun to emerge. This systematic scoping review aimed to map and synthesise the existing evidence regarding the participant reported efficacy and perspectives concerning psychedelics in the treatment of EDs, and to identify significant research gaps. A systematic search was undertaken across several databases in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. 1290 publications were identified, 1135 after duplicates removed, with 17 meeting full-eligibility criteria. Overall, findings suggested that most participants reported experiencing a meaningful reduction in their ED symptoms and having positive experiences or an openness to explore psychedelics as a treatment for ED symptoms, although some noted concerns of adverse effects and the importance of having psychological support to increase safety and efficacy. While preliminary research suggests psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may be a viable treatment option for ED symptoms, further research with more robust research designs is required to increase confidence in its efficacy, generalisability, and safety as a therapeutic medium.