Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows rapid improvement for severe anorexia in pilot study

In a recent pilot study of 21 women averaging 11 years of anorexia nervosa, participants received three oral doses of psilocybin (one milligram followed by two 25-mg doses) spaced two weeks apart, each paired with intensive psychotherapy before and after dosing. The regimen produced a swift drop in eating-disorder scores, with half of the cohort reaching symptom levels comparable to non-patients after three months and many maintaining heightened recovery motivation for up to a year, despite no significant change in body-mass index.

Only one participant withdrew, and two suicide attempts were reported but deemed unrelated to the treatment. Researchers emphasized self-compassion and family involvement rather than nutritional weight gain, and noted few adverse events. While the absence of a control group limits definitive conclusions, psychiatrists view the data as encouraging amid a field where conventional therapies help only about half of patients. The findings add to growing interest in psychedelics, which regulators hope could receive FDA approval for mental-health uses within five years.