Psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with gambling disorder?

Gambling disorder is a severe mental health and behavioral problem with harmful financial, relationship, and mental health consequences. This paper initiates discussion on using psychedelics combined with psychotherapeutic support as a potential treatment option. Recent studies have shown promising results with psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and various substance use disorders. Given similarities in underlying psychosocial and neurobiological mechanisms between gambling disorder and other addictions, the authors suggest PAT could be effective for gambling disorder. The paper underscores the need for further research into its viability and effectiveness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Gambling disorder is a severe mental health and behavioural problem with harmful consequences, including financial, relationship and mental health problems. The present paper initiates discussion on the use of psychedelics combined with psychotherapeutic support as a potential treatment option for people living with a gambling disorder. Recent studies have shown promising results using psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) to treat anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and various substance use disorders. Considering the similarities in the underlying psychosocial and neurobiological mechanisms of gambling disorder and other addictive disorders, the authors suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be effective in treating gambling disorder. The paper also underscores the need for further research into the viability and effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy for gambling disorder.