Psychedelic assisted therapy and the latest targets
Autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, depression, end-of-life anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder…
The tide is coming. Elon Musk recently tweeted questioning the effectiveness of psychedelics over prescription drugs.
Imperial College London is now conducting a clinical trial to assess the feasibility, brain mechanisms, and preliminary outcomes of treating anorexia nervosa (AN) with psilocybin. Twenty participants will receive three oral doses of psilocybin over six weeks delivered in a therapeutic environment and enveloped by psychological preparation and integration.
Anorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric condition with three times higher prevalence in females than males. AN belongs to an eating disorder that affects at least 9% of the population worldwide. Compared to a healthy population, those affected with AN are almost 12 times more likely to die prematurely.
A tremendous surge of interest in the therapeutic use of classic psychedelic drugs is evident. Psychedelic drugs include:
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
- Psilocybin (the principal psychedelic molecule in magic mushrooms).
