Psychedelics and the treatment of eating disorders: considerations for future research and practice

Author: mycolabadmin
10/22/2024
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Summary

As researchers explore using psychedelic drugs like psilocybin to treat eating disorders, this article outlines important safety considerations and ethical guidelines needed before widespread use. While some early trials show promise, significant concerns exist including physiological risks (heart problems, nausea), psychological challenges, potential for therapist misconduct, and medication interactions. The authors recommend rigorous research designs, better inclusion of diverse populations, and careful integration of psychedelics with proven eating disorder treatments.

Background

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated promising results for psychedelic-assisted therapies in treating severe psychiatric illnesses, including depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. There is growing interest in exploring the potential of psychedelics for treating eating disorders, though research in this area remains limited. This comment article addresses critical considerations needed to advance this field safely and ethically.

Objective

To outline risks, ethical considerations, and methodological aspects that require careful attention in designing psychedelic-assisted therapy trials for eating disorders. The authors provide provisional guidelines for clinical research trials to help shape future work in investigating psychedelics for eating disorder treatment.

Results

The article identifies multiple risks including physiological effects (nausea, tachycardia, hypertension), psychological adverse events, potential for re-traumatization, and eating disorder-specific concerns such as medication interactions and effects on appetite. At least six registered clinical trials for PAT in eating disorders are currently underway, examining primarily psilocybin for anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder.

Conclusion

While psychedelic-assisted therapy shows potential for treating eating disorders, the field must address critical methodological limitations, ensure rigorous double-blinded randomized controlled trials, incorporate evidence-based eating disorder interventions, achieve greater racial equity in research participation, and establish clear safety protocols and ethical standards before widespread implementation.

Published in:Journal of Eating Disorders,
Study Type:Comment/Review,
Source: PMID: 39438992, DOI: 10.1186/s40337-024-01125-6