Study Protocol and 6-Month Progress Update: Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study

The protocol and 6-month progress update will be presented for an ongoing pilot study of psilocybin-assisted therapy in anorexia nervosa. Protocol: Twenty female participants will receive three psilocybin doses (≤25 mg) in a therapeutic environment over a 6-week period, followed by a 12-month remote follow-up period.

Our primary outcomes are the Eating Disorder Examination and the Readiness and Motivation Questionnaire. Neurophysiological outcome measures will be functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain changes and post-acute changes in electroencephalography (EEG) activity. Progress: An overview of feasibility results, telephone screenings, and adverse events between June – December 2021 will also be reported.

The final results of this study will shed light on the acceptability, brain mechanisms, and potential efficacy of psilocybin as an adjunct treatment for anorexia nervosa.

Hannah Douglass

Hannah Douglass is a 2nd year PhD Student at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London. Her current research centres around the treatment of anorexia nervosa with psilocybin-assisted therapy, for which she was awarded the President's PhD Scholarship to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of. Her specific research interests within this project include psilocybin-mediated long-term potentiation neuroplasticity, cognitive flexibility and interoceptive awareness.

Prior to commencing her PhD, she received a BSc in Pharmacology from the University of Leeds and an MSc in Translational Neuroscience from Imperial College London.