A recent study found that psilocybin therapy, which is used to treat many mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and addictions, can help treat people with eating disorders. anorexia nervosaThe study was published in the journal Psychedelics.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight. This causes people to severely limit their food intake and often engage in excessive exercise. People with this type of eating disorder usually have a distorted body image in which they see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously thin.

This disorder can cause serious health complications, including malnutrition, weak bones, cardiovascular problems, and in extreme cases, even death. Anorexia nervosa affects both physical and mental health, along with other conditions such as depression and anxiety.

psychedelic therapy is a mental health treatment that uses psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and MDMA, for therapeutic breakthroughs in people with mental health disorders. When combined with psychotherapy, these substances can help patients process painful memories, gain new perspective, and reduce symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.

Although this form of therapy is largely experimental and strictly regulated, there is growing research into its benefits and how it can be used to treat mental health problems.

“Our findings suggest that psilocybin may be helpful in supporting meaningful psychological change in a subgroup of people with anorexia nervosa,” said lead author Dr Stephanie Natz Peck at the University of California, San Diego in the US.

For the study, researchers used a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin with special psychological support before, during, and after administration.

The results showed that “60 percent of participants reported a decrease in the way they viewed their physical appearance”. About 70 percent showed improvements in quality of life and changes in personal identity, while 40 percent reported a clinically significant reduction in eating disorder psychosis.

Although the effects of the treatment were most pronounced in size and weight concerns, changes in psychological attitudes did not automatically translate into weight restoration, the team said.

While the results look promising, the researchers also highlight the complexity of treating anorexia nervosa. The team suggested that a comprehensive treatment approach using psychedelic therapy may be better than using it as a standalone intervention.

Dr. Walter H. Kaye, director of the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment Center, stressed the need for larger, well-controlled studies that include brain imaging and genetic analysis to better understand what benefits most from this novel treatment approach. Who can benefit more? The findings open new avenues for research into personalized medical approaches for eating disorders, while also raising important questions about how to adapt therapeutic protocols for this vulnerable population.

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