Psilocybin Therapy Cut Anorexia Symptoms in 21-Patient Pilot Trial
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · Aug 5
Psilocybin Therapy Cut Anorexia Symptoms in 21-Patient Pilot Trial
1 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Aug 5
Summary
A 21-woman pilot study found psilocybin paired with talk therapy reduced anorexia symptoms and boosted motivation to recover in patients who had lived with the illness for an average of 11 years.
Three oral doses over six weeks—1 mg followed by two 25-mg sessions—were given with intensive therapy, and researchers reported few adverse events, though one participant withdrew and another attempted suicide twice in incidents deemed unrelated.
Half of participants had eating-disorder scores comparable to someone without a diagnosis after three months, while motivation gains lasted up to a year even though body mass index did not meaningfully change.
Researchers say the approach may work by increasing cognitive flexibility and emotional connectedness, but outside experts called the findings only modestly encouraging because the trial lacked a control group.
The results add to early psychedelic research in eating disorders, where standard treatments help only about half of patients and larger controlled trials are still needed before any approval.