Clinical trials show that the hallucinogenic component `` psilocybin '' of magic mushrooms may be effective in treating anorexia
It has been suggested that
Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study | Nature Medicine
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02455-9
Psychedelic psilocybin could treat anorexia in some patients, trial suggestions | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/health/medicine-drugs/psychedelic-psilocybin-could-treat-anorexia-in-some-patients-trial-suggests
Anorexia nervosa, also called anorexia nervosa, is a disease that leads to extreme dietary restrictions due to a strong desire to be thin and a morbid fear of obesity. It is a mental disorder often seen in teenage women, and symptoms such as amenorrhea, hypotension, hypokalemia, liver dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance due to malnutrition appear.
Patients with anorexia nervosa try to lose more weight even when they are sufficiently thin, tend to regard even a small weight gain as a failure, and admit that they are ill. About 70% of diagnosed patients recover within 10 years, but many die suddenly due to severe dieting, and it is a dangerous disease with a mortality rate of 10% after 10 years. Anorexia nervosa is also known to be difficult to treat, and there are no approved therapeutic agents.
A research team at the University of California, San Diego conducted a clinical trial to see if psilocybin, which is recognized for its efficacy in various psychiatric disorders, can be used to treat such anorexia nervosa.
The research team gathered 10 subjects aged 18 to 40 with anorexia nervosa and administered 25 mg of synthetic psilocybin once while providing psychological support by a professional therapist. In a follow-up survey three months after administration, nine subjects had a more positive outlook on life, eight said they had a ``five-finger experience in life,'' and seven said their quality of life had improved.
Furthermore, it has been reported that 4 of the subjects were in remission of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa 3 months after administration. Two of the subjects became hypoglycemic immediately after administration, but recovered quickly, and no serious side effects were seen in any of the subjects.
Psilocybin acts on the neurotransmitter serotonin receptor 5-HT2A and is thought to have a positive effect on the treatment of various psychiatric disorders.
Walter Kay , a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, co-author of the paper, told Live Science, a scientific media, ``Although it is speculative, psilocybin administration restores the function of serotonin that has been altered in anorexia nervosa. It may have helped patients have a new perspective on their symptoms and behavior.
In addition, in this study, all 10 subjects were female, and 9 of them recognized themselves as white, so they lacked gender, racial, and cultural diversity. Also, since no comparison was made with a control group that received a placebo instead of psilocybin, the research team needs to gather a more diverse group of patients in future studies and test various doses of psilocybin Point out.
Related Posts:
in Science, Posted by log1h_ik