Exploring the neurobiological correlates of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in eating disorders: a review of potential methodologies and implications for the psychedelic study design
Elena Koning, Cristiano Chaves, Elisa Brietzke, Ryan H. Kirkpatrick
Journal of Eating Disorders December 27, 2024 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-024-01185-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Eating disorders Neuroimaging Psychotherapist Psychological intervention Anorexia nervosa Clinical psychology Bulimia nervosa Mental health Conceptualization Cognition Population Exposure therapy Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Limited knowledge of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy restricts confirmation of its clinical utility for eating disorders, but methodologies such as neuroimaging and electrophysiology can probe these correlates. |
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of debilitating mental illnesses characterized by maladaptive eating behaviors and severe cognitive-emotional dysfunction, directly affecting 1-3% of the population. Standard treatments are not effective in approximately one third of ED cases, representing the need for scientific advancement. There is emerging evidence for the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) to improve treatment outcomes in individuals with EDs. However, the limited knowledge of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of PAP restricts the ability to confirm its clinical utility. This narrative review presents an overview of methodologies used to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of EDs or the effects of psilocybin that could be employed to probe the neurobiological correlates of PAP in EDs, including magnetic resonance imaging and molecular neuroimaging techniques, electrophysiological approaches, and neuroplasticity markers. Finally, the implications of these methodologies are described in relation to the unique features of the psychedelic study design, challenges, limitations, and future directions to advance the field. This paper represents a valuable resource for scientists during study conceptualization and design phases and stimulates advancement in the identification of effective therapeutic interventions for EDs.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development | 2018 | Review | |
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| Systematized Review of Psychotherapeutic Components of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy | 2021 | Systematized review | |
| The Emerging Field of Psychedelic Psychotherapy. | 2022 | Review | |
| Experience of Music Used With Psychedelic Therapy: A Rapid Review and Implications Participants in psychedelic therapy research aged 18–69 with varied backgrounds | 2020 | Rapid review | n = 180 |
Citations in the library
Cites 31
- Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain. Nature August 1, 2024
- Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology October 21, 2022
- Ethics and ego dissolution: the case of psilocybin Journal of Medical Ethics May 27, 2020
- Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy Harm Reduction Journal April 11, 2021
- Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience. European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2021
and 26 more in the library