It’s a trip doctors hope leads to a breakthrough.
A small new study suggests that magic mushrooms may one day offer a new treatment for anorexia nervosa, a serious eating disorder marked by severe food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image.
That could be a major breakthrough, as anorexia is considered one of the deadliest and hardest mental illnesses to treat.
In the study, researchers at the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London set out to see whether psilocybin — the mind-altering compound in magic mushrooms — could help people with long-term anorexia break free from the disorder’s grip.
They recruited 21 women who’d lived with the illness for an average of 11 years and hadn’t found lasting relief from previous treatments.
The participants were 32 years old on average and had an average body mass index (BMI) of 16.4. For adults, a healthy BMI typically falls between 18.5 and 24.9.
Over six weeks, the women received three oral doses of psilocybin in a carefully controlled therapeutic setting.
Each participant got one “assumed inactive” dose of psilocybin (1 mg, as a “placebo”), followed by two “high doses” (25 mg), with two weeks between each session.
The first dose was meant to be small enough that it would not cause a psychedelic trip. Still, some participants reported feeling its impact.
The researchers followed up with participants after their final session — checking in again at two weeks, three months, six months and one year — to see whether the treatment’s benefits lasted.
They tracked changes in their eating disorder symptoms and motivation to recover, while also monitoring the participants’ BMI during the first six weeks.
By the end of the study, the team found that their average eating disorder symptom scores were lower at every follow-up point. Nearly all of the participants showed improvements two weeks after their final psilocybin session.
Three months later, 48% of participants had scores similar to those seen in people without an eating disorder.
The women also reported a stronger motivation to recover — a change that lasted for an entire year.
The treatment did not lead to a noticeable change in BMI, but researchers said that was not surprising. Since participants’ weight was tracked for only a short period, it was too early to tell whether longer-term physical changes occurred.
Overall, the team found that psilocybin was safe in the study. The most common side effects were headaches and nausea. One participant chose to drop out after her second dose.
The researchers also reported that one participant attempted suicide twice — at seven and nine months after receiving psilocybin. But after reviewing the events, both the study team and outside experts determined they weren’t related to the treatment.
In their paper, the researchers stressed that the case should be viewed in the context of the serious risks already associated with anorexia, a disorder linked to high rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Previous research has found that people with anorexia are 18 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, making it one of the leading causes of death among those with the disorder.
While the findings suggest psilocybin could eventually become a new tool in the fight against anorexia, the researchers cautioned that more work is needed before it could become widely available.
After all, the study had several limitations. It involved just 21 participants, did not include a drug-free comparison group and suggested that the therapy may work better for some people than others.
“Our results in individuals living with anorexia nervosa are encouraging, especially given that these participants had found previous treatments unsuccessful in maintaining their remission,” Dr. Hannah Douglass, who led the study while completing her Ph.D. at Imperial College London, said in a press release.
“However, further research is needed to assess how these findings might apply to a broader, more diverse population.”
Currently, treatments for anorexia nervosa can include medications such as SSRIs to address related depression and anxiety, along with talk therapy.
But major gaps remain. Research suggests about one-third of people with anorexia don’t recover, even after receiving treatment — underscoring the urgent need for new options.
“Having worked in the field of eating disorders for over 15 years, it was encouraging to see that the trial, albeit with a very small cohort, provided an opportunity for individuals living with anorexia nervosa to approach treatment from a different angle,” said Jennifer Danby, a systemic psychotherapist and eating disorders specialist who was the lead therapist on the trial.
“Anorexia often serves as a protective mechanism for people, and we saw participants be able to explore their relationship with the illness and gain some new perspectives. By laying fertile ground for change, even minor adjustments can lead to promising change longer term.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
