Anorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric condition with few approved treatments. This paper describes how individuals with lived experience of anorexia nervosa helped shape a pilot study of psilocybin-assisted therapy through two online focus groups involving eleven people, and presents the protocol for that study at Imperial College London. Twenty female participants aged 21–65 with a body mass index of 15 kg/m² or above will receive three oral doses of psilocybin (up to 25 mg) over six weeks, supported by psychological preparation and integration, with a 12-month remote follow-up.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects many people, but its underlying causes remain unclear. Treatment resistance points to the disorder's heterogeneity and the need for therapies beyond monoamine neurotransmission. This review examines emerging targets for MDD, including psychedelics, antibiotics, opioid modulators, neuropeptides, and onabotulinumtoxin, as well as neuromodulatory treatments like light-based therapies, magnetic stimulation, and electrical stimulation. Most interventions were tested as add-ons to antidepressants. Research on psychedelics is most advanced, with trials suggesting rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects. The review considers trial findings, tolerability, study design limitations, and research quality. Currently, forming recommendations is challenging, but future research may allow more robust guidance.