Psilocybin Treatment as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders: Therapeutic Rationale & Considerations for Protocol Development.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) March 6, 2026 Elena Koning, Susan Gamberg, Aaron Keshen 1 citation
Eating disorders remain difficult to treat, with high dropout and low remission rates in cognitive-behavioral therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED). Psilocybin treatment may enhance CBT-ED by producing antidepressant, neuroplasticity, and emotional openness effects that could increase therapeutic engagement and improve outcomes. This narrative review consolidates theoretical evidence for combining psilocybin treatment with CBT-ED, proposes considerations for a concurrent intervention protocol, and outlines clinical and research considerations for testing its feasibility, safety, and efficacy. The authors expect this work to advance treatments for eating disorders and the study of psychedelics as tools to enhance evidence-based psychotherapy.