16 million people worldwide.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, affect approximately 16 million individuals globally. The exploration of psychedelics, such as psilocybin and MDMA, as potential treatments for these conditions is a burgeoning field of research, showing promise in alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.

What is Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are behavioural conditions characterised by a severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviours, accompanied by distressing thoughts and emotions. The most prevalent disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, affecting around 16 million people worldwide.

Individuals with eating disorders often experience increased mortality rates and reduced quality of life. Symptoms vary by disorder; anorexia involves severe restriction of energy intake, leading to significantly low body weight, while bulimia involves recurrent binge-eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviours.

Eating disorders are complex, with biological, psychological, and environmental factors contributing to their development. They often co-occur with disorders such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, complicating treatment.

Current Treatments

Standard treatments for eating disorders include a multidisciplinary approach involving psychotherapy (such as cognitive-behavioural therapy), nutritional education, medical monitoring, and sometimes medications like SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine for bulimia) and antipsychotics. However, efficacy remains limited, particularly for anorexia.

Psychedelic Effect Matrix

Systematic comparison of compound efficacy and evidence levels for Eating Disorders.

Compound	Magnitude	Evidence	Consistency
Psilocybin Clinical trials are revealing promising results for psilocybin in treating eating disorders, establishing a moderate level of evidence.	Medium	Moderate	Consistent
MDMA Ongoing trials suggest MDMA's potential effectiveness in psychotherapy settings, contributing to a growing body of supportive evidence.	Medium	Moderate	Consistent

Psilocybin and Eating Disorders

Psilocybin has been shown to facilitate introspection and emotional processing, which may help individuals with eating disorders confront underlying issues related to body image and self-acceptance. By modulating serotonin pathways and impacting the default mode network, psilocybin may assist in breaking negative thought patterns and fostering healthier relationships with food and self.

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MDMA and Eating Disorders

MDMA is known for its empathogenic effects, enhancing emotional connectivity and reducing anxiety. This may allow patients to engage in psychotherapy more fully, promoting openness and self-compassion. Research indicates that through these mechanisms, MDMA may help ameliorate the psychological distress associated with eating disorders, allowing for transformative therapeutic experiences.

View full MDMA profile →

Key Insights

1
Psychedelics offer a novel approach to treat eating disorders, aiming to address the psychological roots of these conditions.
2
Initial studies have shown that psychedelics may facilitate significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms by altering self-perception and emotional engagement.
3
Phases I and II clinical trials for psilocybin and MDMA in treating anorexia and bulimia are currently underway at major research institutions like Johns Hopkins University.
4
Emerging evidence suggests significant interest among individuals with eating disorders in participating in psychedelic research, with over 60% expressing willingness to explore these treatments.

Industrial Landscape

Key stakeholders include institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London, as well as companies like Novamind and Tryp Therapeutics, which are focusing on innovative treatments blending psychedelics with psychotherapy.

Quick Indicators

Prevalence16 million people worldwide.

Research Footprint

0Trials

0Papers

\"Ongoing clinical evaluations are investigating Eating Disorders as a primary indication for various psychedelic compounds.\"

Key Organizations

4 Connected

Delix Therapeutics

Delix Therapeutics is harnessing the power of neuroplastogens, a novel class of compounds designed to bring about a new paradigm in brain health therapeutics with treatments intended to be safe, fast-acting, and long-lasting. Through its discovery platform, Delix has identified non-hallucinogenic versions of psychedelic compounds with favorable safety and therapeutic profiles. The company was co-founded in 2019 by David E. Olson and Nick Haft, building upon Olson's discovery at the University of California, Davis, of several novel psychoplastogens that have significant therapeutic potential in preclinical models, without hallucinogenic side effects. Delix's treatments are designed to address the root cause of neuropsychiatric conditions by repairing the underlying synaptic damage through targeted neuroplasticity. To date, the company has synthesized over 2000 novel psychoplastogens, many of which are analogs of known psychedelics such as ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. Their lead compound, zalsupindole (DLX-001), produces the same rapid and sustained structural and functional plasticity as ketamine, psilocybin, and DMT, without inducing hallucinations or dissociation. Recent Phase I data have demonstrated that DLX-001 is associated with robust signs of CNS engagement and a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no serious adverse events reported to date. The company's compounds are tailored for swift neuronal repair and can be taken at-home, providing significant advantages to patients, their loved ones, and healthcare providers. Delix focuses on developing non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens as scalable alternatives to first-generation hallucinogenic psychoplastogens like ketamine and psilocybin.

MAPS

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Lykos Therapeutics

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Leiden University

Leiden University doesn't have a dedicated research centre for psychedelics. However, several staff members from their medical centre and psychology faculty are working with psychedelics. Researchers here are working with other universities including Utrecht University as well as Compass Pathways.