509 - Mental Health Providers and Physicians “Weigh-in” on Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Adolescents and Young Adults with Anorexia Nervosa

Poster Number: 509
Publication Number: 509.3

Marissa Raymond-Flesch, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States; Anita Chaphekar, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States; Maxine Boyd, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Murrieta, CA, United States; Amanda E.. Downey, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is among the deadliest of all mental illnesses, but current therapies result in remission in < 50% of cases. Clinical trials in psychedelic therapies are beginning in adults internationally. No research to date describes how medical and mental health professionals who care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with AN view psychedelic therapy; engagement of these stakeholders will be critical to expanding psychedelic therapy research and treatment for AYAs. 

Objective: To identify best-practices for engagement, communication, and collaboration with providers who care for AYAs with AN in order to inform future interventions using psychedelic therapy.

Design/Methods: Medical and mental health providers who treat AYAs with AN were recruited via professional referral networks and participant driven sampling from across California to participate in 1 of 5 focus groups. Discussion topics included prior exposure to psychedelic therapy, interests and concerns related to psychedelic therapy for AN, opportunities for collaborating with community providers in the execution of psychedelic trials, and interest in continuing education related to psychedelic therapy for AN. Focus groups were conducted in English, recorded via Zoom, and transcribed for analysis. Four team members completed iterative rounds of thematic memoing.

Results: 32 providers reported a range of experience with psychedelics, including patient recreational use, familiarity with “underground” providers, and two therapists were trained in ketamine therapy. Providers expressed concerns about the impact of psychedelics on neurodevelopment and the potential for dependence. Several raised concerns about the medical risks of psychedelics in malnourished patients.  Despite these concerns, providers were generally optimistic about the potential for psychedelic therapy for treating AYAs with AN. In anticipating challenges, providers had concerns about equity in access to care among publicly insured and non-English speaking patients.  They requested additional opportunities for continuing education about psychedelic therapy and suggested structured approaches for collaborating with research teams as therapy protocols are developed.

Conclusion(s): Our findings demonstrate widespread knowledge and interest in psychedelic therapy for the treatment of AN among providers treating AYAs in California. As research protocols and future interventions are developed, it will be critical to integrate the perspectives of providers who refer patients to care and resume care following psychedelic therapy.