Psychedelic‐assisted therapy for functional neurological disorders: A theoretical framework and review of prior reports
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives February 2, 2021 Benjamin Stewart, Jon G. Dean, Adriana Koek et al. 15 citations
Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are common, disabling neuropsychiatric conditions with limited treatment options. They present with sensory or motor symptoms that mimic other neurological conditions but arise from mechanisms other than identifiable structural neuropathology, often triggered by psychological factors. Preliminary evidence supports psychedelic-assisted therapy for several psychiatric illnesses, including FNDs. This review examines theoretical arguments for and against exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy for FNDs, discusses prior cases of psychedelic use for psychosomatic conditions, and analyzes therapeutic outcomes through recent neuroimaging studies on psychedelics and FNDs.