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Exploring the neurobiological correlates of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in eating disorders: a review of potential methodologies and implications for the psychedelic study design

Summary

This review examines how psilocybin-assisted therapy might work for eating disorders by looking at various ways to measure changes in the brain. The authors discuss different brain imaging techniques and other tools that scientists could use to understand how psilocybin affects the brains of people with eating disorders. They emphasize that combining multiple measurement approaches provides the best understanding of how this emerging treatment works and can guide future research and clinical applications.

Background

Eating disorders are severe mental illnesses affecting 1-3% of the population with limited treatment efficacy in approximately one-third of cases. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) shows emerging promise for improving outcomes in individuals with eating disorders. However, understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying PAP’s therapeutic effects remains limited.

Objective

This narrative review presents methodologies that can be employed to elucidate the neurobiological correlates of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in eating disorders. The review aims to synthesize evidence on neuroimaging, electrophysiological approaches, and neuroplasticity markers that could probe the mechanisms of PAP in eating disorders and discuss implications for psychedelic study design.

Results

The review identifies multiple methodological approaches including structural and functional MRI, molecular neuroimaging (PET/SPECT), electrophysiological methods (EEG/MEG), and neuroplasticity markers (BDNF, IGF-1, VEGF). Each methodology can probe specific neurobiological mechanisms relevant to both eating disorders and psilocybin effects. A multimodal approach combining multiple techniques is recommended for comprehensive assessment.

Conclusion

Integration of neurobiological assessments with PAP research in eating disorders requires careful selection of methodologies aligned with study hypotheses and consideration of unique psychedelic study design features. Multimodal approaches combining neuroimaging, molecular markers, and electrophysiology offer comprehensive insights into mechanistic effects. Future research should address standardization, replication, and clinical applicability challenges.
  • Published in:Journal of Eating Disorders,
  • Study Type:Narrative Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39731144
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