Study Shows Promise for Treating Anorexia with Psilocybin

A recent study from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) brings new insights into the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treating anorexia nervosa—a psychiatric disorder with one of the highest mortality rates and notable resistance to standard treatments. Published in Psychedelics, the study dives deep into qualitative data and participant experiences, offering a nuanced understanding of how this psychedelic intervention might impact those struggling with this complex condition.

In the trial, a single 25 milligram (mg) dose of psilocybin was paired with structured psychological support before, during, and after the session. Researchers utilized data from semi-structured interviews, participant feedback, and subjective interpretations of data trends to gauge outcomes.

 “Our findings suggest that psilocybin may be helpful in supporting meaningful psychological change in a subset of people with anorexia nervosa,” said Stephanie Knatz Peck, PhD, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSD and lead author of the study. Specifically, the study found that 60 percent of participants reported decreased emphasis on physical appearance, while 70 percent experienced quality-of-life improvements and shifts in personal identity.

Key outcomes reported from the study include:

• Profound Life Experiences: 90 percent of participants ranked their psilocybin session as one of the top five most meaningful experiences in their lives.
• Symptom Reduction: Four in ten participants showed clinically significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms.
• Core Symptom Targets: The strongest treatment effects were observed in concerns around body shape and weight.
• Complexities in Treatment Response: Notably, psychological shifts did not consistently lead to weight restoration, a hallmark challenge in anorexia nervosa recovery.

Participants shared personal insights that reflect the subjective impact of the therapy. One participant reported, “You are able to act in a way that maybe had felt unachievable before if you set the right intention,” while another observed, “Things might not look that different from the outside, but they feel completely different from the inside.”

Despite promising results, the study points to the complexities of using psychedelics in eating disorder treatment, emphasizing that such therapy may be most effective as part of a broader, comprehensive treatment plan rather than a standalone intervention. Walter Kaye, MD, senior author of the study and director of the UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment Center, calls for further research, particularly with larger, controlled studies that include brain imaging and genetic analysis. He believes this will help identify which patients might benefit most from psychedelic interventions.

The findings signal a potential step forward in personalized, integrative care for those with eating disorders, providing a foundation for future research on optimizing therapeutic protocols for this vulnerable population. With continued study, this study indicates that psilocybin-assisted therapy may offer new hope for patients unresponsive to conventional treatment approaches.