Psychedelic Research for Alcohol Use Disorder with Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder: An Unmet Need.
Daan de Jonge, Pim B. van der Meer, Cornelis Kramers, Arnt Schellekens
Current Psychiatry Reports December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01567-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin LSD |
| Topics | Addiction Depression LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelic treatment Hallucinogenic therapy Behavioral health treatment Comorbid conditions |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin shows promising effects on drinking frequency in AUD and large reductions in depressive symptoms in MDD, but more research is needed in patients with both disorders. |
Abstract
In this narrative review, we discuss evidence for psilocybin- and LSD-assisted treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). We describe limitations of psychedelic research and posit methodological considerations when designing a trial in patients with both disorders. In AUD, a growing evidence base for psilocybin treatment shows a promising beneficial and sustained effect on measures of drinking frequency. In MDD, a recent meta-analysis has demonstrated that psilocybin therapy provides a large and consistent reduction in depressive symptoms compared to no treatment. Co-occurrence of MDD and AUD is quite prevalent, and this comorbidity exacerbates symptomatology of the two individual disorders and complicates their treatment. Theoretically, patients presenting with both AUD and MDD would benefit from an integrated therapy that could treat MDD and AUD simultaneously. We believe that more research into the efficacy of psilocybin in patients with both AUD and MDD is warranted and justified.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Registered clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating psychedelics for... | 2021 | Review | n = 70 |
| Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness. Palliative care clinicians and patients | 2022 | Review | |
| Serotonergic psychedelics for depression: What do we know about neurobiological mechanisms of action? | 2023 | Narrative review | |
| Role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression | 2016 | Review |