Psilocybin Trial Shows Promise for Anorexia Treatment

A recent small-scale clinical trial conducted by Imperial College London has suggested that psilocybin, the active ingredient found in magic mushrooms, might aid in the treatment of anorexia nervosa when paired with comprehensive psychological support. The findings, released on July 8 in The British Journal of Psychiatry, involved 21 women suffering from long-standing anorexia (with an average duration of 11 years) who had not responded to previous treatments. Participants were administered synthetic psilocybin in three doses—1 mg, 25 mg, and 25 mg—during therapy sessions. By the conclusion of the six-week program, 18 out of 21 participants reported improvements in their eating disorder symptoms, with self-reported issues remaining lower after a year. However, BMI changes were minimal, and results varied among individuals. The trial did not include a placebo control group, and the majority of participants were white and British. Lead therapist Jennifer Danby noted that psilocybin might facilitate recovery by easing the rigid thought patterns typical of anorexia. This study marks the largest published clinical trial of psilocybin for anorexia so far, building on earlier studies, including a 1959 French case and a 2023 American pilot. Researchers warn that psilocybin is not a cure-all but could provide an opportunity for therapeutic advancement, highlighting the need for larger controlled trials to validate its effectiveness.