Questioning the recovery of dissociated traumatic memories under psilocybin: comment on "Therapeutic emergence of dissociated traumatic memories during psilocybin treatment for anorexia nervosa"

Abstract

In their recent case report article, Peck and colleagues suggested that two patients recovered dissociated traumatic memories during psilocybin treatment for anorexia nervosa. These case reports are of clinical and scientific interest and confirm that psychedelics may induce vivid memory-like experiences. However, the reports warrant scrutiny. Here, based on what is known about recovered memories and the effects of psychedelics, we argue that the authors may not have adequately considered alternative explanations. The cases do not necessarily demonstrate that psilocybin induces recovery of dissociated traumatic memories or could treat dissociative amnesia. We further caution against the authors' suggestion of explicitly preparing patients for the emergence of forgotten material.

Keywords: Amnesia; Dissociation; Psilocybin; Psychedelics; Recovered memory; Trauma.