Could Psychedelics Transform Treatment for Eating Disorders?

APPETITE FOR INNOVATION –

Nov. 29, 2024 – Traditional therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, nutritional rehabilitation and pharmacological treatments, often have only limited success. In recent years, researchers have turned their attention to more unconventional methods, such as psychedelic medicine, in the search for more effective treatment avenues.

Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound present in psychedelic mushrooms, has gained attention for its benefcicial effects in treating a range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and addiction. Psilocybin acts on the serotonin system and can alter an individual’s perception. Since changes in serotonin function have been implicated in anorexia, researchers believe that psilocybin treatment may help address aspects of the disorder untouched by conventional methods.

The team’s original clinical trial was published in Nature Medicine. They conducted a phase 1, open-label feasibility study exploring the safety and potential therapeutic effects of psilocybin in adult women with AN or partial AN remission. The investigation involved ten participants, all diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria. Each participant received a single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin paired with structured psychological support before, during and after administration.