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 74
- Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 23, 2012
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Scientific Reports October 13, 2017
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
and 69 more in the library