Magic mushrooms trial ‘could help in fight to develop anorexia treatment’

Scientists in London will launch a potentially “game-changing” clinical trial to assess whether the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms could help to treat anorexia nervosa.

The phase II clinical trial, involving scientists from King’s College London (KCL) and three US-based research institutes, will examine whether psilocybin can help to alleviate symptoms of the eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders because of medical complications and suicide.

There is no pharmacological treatment for the condition, which affects about 2.2 per cent of women at some point in their lives.

The trial, launched and funded by London-based healthcare firm Compass Pathways, will compare the effects of 25mg and 1mg doses of psilocybin on 60 anorexia patients. All participants will be accompanied by a psychologist for the treatment session and any changes in their symptoms will be tracked across a 12-week period.

Dr Hubertus Himmerich, a clinical senior lecturer in eating disorders at KCL, who is leading the trial, said he believed that psilocybin could help to tackle low moods and obsessive-compulsive thinking in patients.

“Psilocybin has been shown to have an effect on the serotonin system. This is important for the psychedelic effect, but also for regulating mood,” he told the Standard. “There have been previous observations in anorexia patients that have found that, after taking psilocybin, they have been less anxious and not restricted calorie intake as much.”

He said that he hoped psilocybin would also help to “open up new perspectives” for patients.

“The problem with psychotherapy and anorexia nervosa is that patients become stuck in a certain way of thinking… the psychedelic experience could give them a way to see the world through different eyes”.

Dr Himmerich said there was evidence that psychedelics such as psilocybin could also lead to positive biological changes in the brain.

“This could mean that brain cells reorganise their structure and function in a way that enables them to connect and communicate better,” he added.

“I think this trial could be a game changer if we find out that this treatment really helps. At the moment, many anorexia nervosa patients never reach full remission and continue to experience difficulties with eating, particularly in social and stressful situations.”

Last April, an Imperial College study of 60 people being treated for depression found psilocybin had an “opening-up” effect and helped to increase brain connectivity.

Dr Guy Goodwin, chief medical officer at Compass, explained that the psychedelic experience could help to change the cognitive “rigidity” associated with anorexia.

“When patients take a psychedelic drug, areas of the brain that usually work quite separately from each other become more connected,” he told the Standard.

“This is manifested in a person’s experience – they may feel more connected to their own identity or their family and friends.

“This opens up different possibilities for ways of thinking afterwards.”

In addition to KCL, the Compass study will also be conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine and Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore.

Compass hope to begin the KCL trial this autumn with results not expected until at least Christmas 2023.