Psychedelics as a potential treatment for borderline personality disorder: A narrative review.
Erin Artna, Guneet Sandhu, Noah Chisamore, Orly Lipsitz, Erica Kaczmarek, Danica E. Johnson, Joshua D. Rosenblat, Saadia Sediqzadah
Psychiatry Research July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2026.117152 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with borderline personality disorder |
| Interventions | Ketamine Esketamine Psilocybin |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Borderline personality disorder Hallucinogens Psychedelics Psychotropics |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Preliminary evidence suggests that ketamine, esketamine, and psilocybin may be safe and effective treatments for improving core BPD symptoms and socio-occupational functioning, though further high-quality research is needed. |
Abstract
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness with high rates of morbidity and stigma; however, successful remission is frequently limited by a paucity of accessible treatment options. In an era of growing interest in psychedelics as novel psychiatric treatment modalities, patients with BPD are often excluded from research due to perceived safety risks, particularly pertaining to suicide and substance misuse. However, there is evolving evidence that psychedelic treatment may effectively target core BPD symptoms, in addition to those of the mood and anxiety disorders frequently comorbid with BPD. As such, characterizing the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in BPD represents an important opportunity to enhance patient outcomes. This narrative review aims to broadly analyze the existing literature on experiences with psychedelics in this population. Data were coalesced from multiple electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and Embase) to characterize the current evidence for psychedelic safety and effectiveness in individuals with BPD. The 22 studies included in this review encompass a broad range of study designs and outcomes involving ketamine, esketamine, and psilocybin. There is some preliminary evidence that these psychedelics may be implemented as safe and effective treatments to improve core BPD symptoms and socio-occupational functioning. However, further high-quality evidence focusing on BPD-specific outcomes is needed to better elucidate their potential role as a treatment modality.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on esketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Long-term safety of ketamine and esketamine in treatment of depression | 2022 | Review | |
| Ketamine, Esketamine, and Arketamine: Their Mechanisms of Action and Applications in the Treatment of Depression and Alleviation of Depressive Symptoms. | 2024 | Review | |
| The potential of ketamine for posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of clinical evidence. | 2023 | Review | |
| Variations in BDNF and Their Role in the Neurotrophic Antidepressant Mechanisms of Ketamine and Esketamine: A Review. Patients with depression | 2024 | Narrative review |
Citations in the library
Cites 36
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 23, 2012
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
and 31 more in the library