Psilocybin might be an effective treatment for anorexia Four out of 10 women treated with psilocybin had clinically significant improvements in anorexia symptoms More experienced improvements in their self-image THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 2024 (HeathDay News) -- The active chemical in “magic mushrooms” may help treat anorexia, a new study has found. Following psilocybin treatment, 4 of 10 study participants showed clinically significant reductions in their anorexia-driven eating habits, researchers report.
“Our findings suggest that psilocybin may be helpful in supporting meaningful psychological change in a subset of people with anorexia nervosa,” said lead researcher Stephanie Knatz Peck , a clinical associate professor with the University of California, San Diego's Eating Disorder Center. For the study, 10 adult women diagnosed with anorexia received a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, combined with specialized psychological support. People with anorexia obsess about their weight and their food intake.
They might severely limit the amount of food they eat, or they might binge on food and then throw up or take large amounts of laxatives to purge their bodies. Nine out of the 10 women treated with psilocybin ranked the session among their top five most meaningful life experiences, researchers report. The results first appeared in a 2023 issue of Nature Medicine , and were more fully described in a report published Nov.
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