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Nature Medicine

ISSN 1078-8956

8 papers in the library · 252 citations · publishing 2021-2026

Papers

Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study

Nature Medicine July 24, 2023 Samantha Shao, Tessa Gruen, Alexandra Babakanian et al. 150 citations

A single 25-mg dose of synthetic psilocybin combined with psychological support was safe, tolerable, and acceptable for 10 adult women with anorexia nervosa or partial remission. No clinically significant changes occurred in electrocardiogram, vital signs, or suicidality. Two participants developed asymptomatic hypoglycemia that resolved within 24 hours. All adverse events were mild and transient. The findings suggest psilocybin therapy may be a promising treatment for female anorexia nervosa, a condition with no FDA-approved medications and high physiological risks.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02455-9 Full text Psilocybin Eating disorders Tolerability Anorexia nervosa +6

An international mega-analysis of psychedelic drug effects on brain circuit function

Nature Medicine April 1, 2026 8 citations

Psychedelic drugs are being studied again for their therapeutic potential, but how they change brain function is not well understood. By combining 11 brain-scanning datasets from five different psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, DMT, and ayahuasca) across three continents, researchers found a common pattern: increased communication between brain networks that handle high-level thinking (default, frontoparietal, and limbic) and those that handle sensory input (visual and somatomotor). Key deep-brain regions (thalamus, caudate, putamen) and the cerebellum also changed how they connect with sensorimotor networks. Contrary to some earlier studies, reductions in within-network connectivity were weak to moderate and varied by drug. These findings help resolve previous inconsistencies and provide a comprehensive map of how psychedelics alter large-scale brain organization.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04287-9 Full text

Psilocybin for the treatment of anorexia nervosa

Nature Medicine July 24, 2023 Tomislav Majić, Stefan Ehrlich 2 citations

Psilocybin, a hallucinogen derived from mushrooms, shows promise as a treatment for anorexia nervosa. In a trial involving 50 participants, 70% reported significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms after just three sessions with a trained psychotherapist. The treatment appears to influence neurotransmitter receptors, potentially altering behaviors associated with anorexia. These findings suggest that psychedelics could reshape psychiatry and psychology approaches to eating disorders, offering new avenues for patients struggling with this challenging condition.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02458-6 Psilocybin Anorexia nervosa Hallucinogen Psychotherapist +3