Why psychedelic-assisted therapy studies in eating disorders risk missing the mark on outcomes: a phenomenological psychopathology perspective.
Elena Koning, Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Aaron Keshen, Phillipa Hay, Anthony Vincent Fernandez, Jack Reynolds, Stephen Touyz
J Eat Disord September 2, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01394-9 (opens in new tab) via PubMed Central
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThis paper argues that current psychedelic-assisted therapy studies for eating disorders may fail to capture meaningful outcomes because they rely on standard psychiatric measures that overlook the subjective, first-person experience of the disorder. From a phenomenological psychopathology perspective, the authors contend that eating disorders involve profound alterations in self-perception, embodiment, and identity that cannot be adequately assessed through symptom checklists or behavioral metrics alone. They suggest that incorporating experiential data and qualitative accounts of transformative shifts in sense of self and body relationship could provide a more accurate picture of therapeutic efficacy.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca MDMA Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Eating disorders Eds Mental health |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Argues that psychedelic-assisted therapy studies for eating disorders risk missing meaningful outcomes by not assessing phenomenological changes in selfhood, embodiment, and temporality. |
Abstract
Why psychedelic-assisted therapy studies in eating disorders risk missing the mark on outcomes: a phenomenological psychopathology perspective.