Encouraging data
The coauthors of a Nature Medicine News & Views commentary say this “encouraging” phase 1 trial “underscores the necessity for more research into classic psychedelics to address the urgent need for effective treatments” for AN.
Outside experts also weighed in on the study in a statement from the U.K.-based nonprofit Science Media Centre.
Alexandra Pike, DPhil, MSc, with University of York, England, noted that this study is “a first step in showing that psilocybin may be a safe treatment for those with anorexia nervosa, but we cannot conclude from this work that it will be effective in this chronic, complex illness.”
Trevor Steward, MD, with University of Melbourne, noted that psilocybin therapy has provided “glimmers of hope in other mental health disorders, notably by providing evidence that it can improve anxiety, cognitive flexibility, and self-acceptance for some people. These are all features of anorexia nervosa and the rationale for exploring psilocybin therapy as an option in the case of anorexia is strong.”
Dr. Steward also noted that the field is only beginning to “scratch the surface in terms of understanding how psilocybin impacts the brain. Dedicated funding to exploring how it specifically acts to target anorexia nervosa symptoms is crucial to advancing this important avenue of research.
“As there are no approved medications available specifically for anorexia nervosa treatment, psilocybin therapy may prove to be a promising option, though additional research is needed to test this,” Dr. Steward said.
The study used an investigational synthetic formulation of psilocybin (COMP360 psilocybin) developed by COMPASS Pathways, which funded the study. Two coauthors have financial and scientific relationships with COMPASS Pathways. The commentary authors and Dr. Steward report no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.