Perspectives and preliminary experiences of psychedelics for the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic scoping review.
Karolina Cuerva, Dean Spirou, Adrian Cuerva, Chantal Delaquis, Jayanthi Raman
European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association September 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1002/erv.3101 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMost participants in existing studies reported meaningful reductions in eating disorder symptoms and expressed openness to psychedelics as a treatment, though some raised concerns about adverse effects and emphasized the need for psychological support to ensure safety and efficacy. This systematic scoping review mapped 17 eligible studies from an initial 1,290 publications, concluding that while preliminary evidence suggests psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may be a viable treatment option, more robust research designs are needed to confirm efficacy, generalizability, and safety.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants with eating disorders |
| Keywords | Eating disorders Psychedelic‐assisted psychotherapy Scoping review |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key finding | Preliminary evidence suggests psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may reduce eating disorder symptoms, but further research with stronger designs is needed. |
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.