Psilocybin for anorexia nervosa: If it helps, let's learn how.
Evelyn Attia, Joanna E Steinglass
Med September 8, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.08.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults with anorexia nervosa |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Eating disorders Mental health treatment Psilocybin research Clinical trials |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin was safe and tolerable for adults with anorexia nervosa in a small open trial. |
Abstract
Existing treatments for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) have limited effectiveness. AN is a brain-based disorder with behavioral and cognitive features leading to severe undernourishment. Peck et al. conducted a small open trial suggesting safety and tolerability of psilocybin for AN,1 opening an avenue for further investigation into the neural mechanisms involved.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Patients with severe, unipolar, treatment-resistant major depression | 2017 | Open-label trial | n = 20 |
| Psilocybin therapy increases cognitive and neural flexibility in patients with major depressive disorder. Patients with major depressive disorder | 2021 | Open-label study | n = 24 |
| HOPE: A Pilot Study of Psilocybin Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients With Cancer. Cancer patients with a DSM-5 depressive disorder (major depressive disorder or... | 2023 | Open-label feasibility and safety pilot study | n = 12 |
| Group psychedelic therapy: empirical estimates of cost-savings and improved access Adults with PTSD or major depressive disorder eligible for psychedelic-assisted therapy... | 2023 | Comparative cost analysis using trial data and published estimates | |
| Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2023 | Open-label trial | n = 19 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Psilocybin restrains activity-based anorexia in female rats by enhancing cognitive flexibility: contributions from 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mechanisms Molecular Psychiatry April 27, 2024
- Psychedelics and Eating Disorders: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential for Anorexia Nervosa and Beyond ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 7, 2025
- Psilocybin prevents activity-based anorexia in female rats by enhancing cognitive flexibility: contributions from 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mechanisms bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) December 13, 2023
- Exploring the neurobiological correlates of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in eating disorders: a review of potential methodologies and implications for the psychedelic study design Journal of Eating Disorders December 27, 2024
- Psychedelic treatment for anorexia nervosa: A first-hand view of how psilocybin treatment did and did not help Psychedelics November 7, 2024
and 2 more in the library
Cites 3
- Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study Nature Medicine July 24, 2023
- Molecular Mechanisms of Psilocybin and Implications for the Treatment of Depression CNS Drugs November 17, 2021
- Psychedelics as Transformative Therapeutics. American Journal of Psychiatry May 1, 2023