Psilocybin for Eating Disorders: The Imperial College Anorexia Trial
About This Video
Review of the Imperial College London pilot trial of psilocybin for anorexia nervosa (n=10, 2023) — the first clinical study of any psychedelic for eating disorders. The results showed significant reductions in eating disorder psychopathology at 1-month follow-up, no serious adverse events, and several participants describing qualitatively different body perception during and after the experience.
The mechanism hypothesis is explained: anorexia involves profoundly rigid, distorted self-referential body image maintained by the default mode network. Psilocybin's dissolution of ordinary self-perception may allow, for the first time, direct encounter with the body from outside the distorted framework of the disorder. Some participants described 'seeing their body as it actually is' — a perception that is not available through conventional therapy.
Medical safety considerations specific to this population are covered: cardiac risk from restriction history, electrolyte abnormalities, minimum weight requirements for trials.
Key Takeaways
- The Imperial College 2023 pilot (n=10) is the first-ever clinical study of psilocybin for eating disorders.
- All 10 participants showed significant EDE-Q reductions at 1-month follow-up.
- Several participants described perceiving their body differently — outside the distorted framework of anorexia.
- Anorexia patients require cardiac screening before psilocybin — restriction history creates cardiac risk.
- The UCSD randomized controlled trial (enrolling 2024-2026) is the first North American controlled anorexia trial.
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