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Narrative review of the potential for psychedelics to treat Prolonged Grief Disorder.

International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
December 1, 2024
Rebecca Ehrenkranz et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to explore the potential of MDMA as a treatment for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), given its efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms and the existential distress relevant to PGD.

Results Summary

The abstract notes that MDMA has demonstrated efficacy in reducing PTSD symptomatology in randomized clinical trials, suggesting potential benefits for PGD, though no direct trials on PGD have been conducted. Preliminary evidence from survey-based studies and an open-label trial indicates a trend toward effectiveness in grief reduction.

Population

Bereaved individuals with Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
psilocybin
decrease
depression
-
-
demonstrated the efficacy in reducing symptom severity
#1
MDMA
decrease
PTSD symptomatology
-
-
demonstrated the efficacy in reducing
#2
psychedelics
decrease
grief reduction
-
-
suggests a consistent trend towards the effectiveness in
#3
Abstract

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is distinct from yet related to non-pathologic grief, depression, addiction, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with a prevalence of up to 10% in bereaved populations. Hallmarks of PGD include functional impairment a year or more post-bereavement and intense yearning for the deceased. Current treatments for PGD are typically psychological rather than psychopharmacological, and more treatment options are needed. Psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA may be a promising treatment avenue for PGD. Randomized clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy of psilocybin in reducing symptom severity in depression and MDMA in reducing PTSD symptomatology. Furthermore, psychedelics often produce subjective effects (such as transcendence, mystical experiences, and a sense of oneness) that may be uniquely relevant to the existential distress experienced in PGD. No randomized clinical trials have thus far been conducted on the safety and efficacy of psychedelics for PGD. Initial research, including survey-based studies and an open-label trial, has begun to shed light on the possible benefits of psychedelics in the alleviation of grief. While the evidence from these studies is preliminary, it suggests a consistent trend towards the effectiveness of psychedelics in grief reduction. Conducting a randomized clinical trial would be an appropriate next step to explore the potential efficacy of using psychedelics to treat PGD.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansHallucinogensGriefStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticPsilocybin
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy70/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations2
Citations/Year2.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score2.28
Normalized Score0.60
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