Psychedelics in functional disorders: A scoping review
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry February 10, 2026 Chiranth Bhagavan, Olivia P. Carter, Alexander Bryson et al. 1 citation
Functional disorders, where symptoms lack an organic explanation, are difficult to treat with existing therapies. This review of 55 studies found that classic psychedelics, particularly LSD in older studies and psilocybin in newer trials, show potential for treating these conditions. 60.7% of studies reported improvement, primarily for functional neurological symptoms. However, the evidence is limited by mostly observational designs, few control groups, and a lack of long-term data. Adverse events included acute psychological and physical effects, and transient worsening of functional symptoms. Future research needs standardized protocols and better safety assessments.