Beyond the numbers: reimagining healing with psychedelics for eating disorders.

J Eat Disord

University of California, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.

Published: September 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • Psychedelic medicine shows potential for treating eating disorders, particularly given the limitations of current treatments for conditions like anorexia nervosa.
  • Early studies are yielding promising results, suggesting that psychedelic-assisted therapy could enhance treatment engagement and address deeper psychological issues.
  • The commentary encourages a broader understanding of eating disorders and aims to integrate collected experiences from patients and researchers as psychedelics become more available in clinical and research scenarios.

Article Abstract

Psychedelic medicine is currently being evaluated for numerous mental health indications, and there is significant interest in applying these models of care to eating disorders (EDs) given the limited efficacy of available treatment models, especially for those living with anorexia nervosa. Preliminary findings across a number of studies suggest promise. In this commentary, researchers with experience in psychedelics and EDs present a rationale and considerations for the application of psychedelic medicine, including psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for EDs. These contributions are informed by those with lived experience as well as the authors' experiences in the field. By addressing underlying psychological and transpersonal factors and improving treatment engagement, psychedelic medicine, though not without risks, may offer a valuable adjunct to existing treatments, enhancing overall outcomes for some living with an ED. This commentary also aims to provide a multi-dimensional perspective to inform the field, including with respect to the etiology of these illnesses, as psychedelic medicine becomes more accessible in naturalistic, research and clinical settings.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11441162PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01111-yDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

psychedelic medicine
16
eating disorders
8
numbers reimagining
4
reimagining healing
4
healing psychedelics
4
psychedelics eating
4
psychedelic
4
disorders psychedelic
4
medicine
4
medicine currently
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!