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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04052568

Effects of Psilocybin in Anorexia Nervosa

This open-label pilot study seeks to investigate the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in persons with chronic anorexia nervosa (AN). Psilocybin has previously been demonstrated to decrease depression and anxiety and increase long-term positive behavior change in other populations. The investigators seek to determine whether similar changes can be safely produced in people with AN when psilocybin is administered in a supportive setting with close follow-up. The investigators' primary hypotheses are that psilocybin is safe to administer in people with AN, that it will reduce measures of anxiety and depression, and that it will lead to increased quality of life. The investigators will also assess a number of exploratory measures related to eating disorder pathophysiology.

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Key information

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa Feeding and Eating Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit

Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

General Inclusion Criteria:

  • Currently meet criteria for AN restricting subtype by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria, and have a history of AN for at least 3 years prior to screening
  • Have at least one prior attempt at treatment
  • Be otherwise medically stable as determined by screening for medical problems via a personal interview, a medical questionnaire, a physical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and routine medical blood and urinalysis laboratory tests (complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, urine pregnancy test, urine toxicology screen).
  • Agree to refrain from using any psychoactive drugs, including alcoholic beverages and nicotine, within 24 hours of each drug administration. The exception is caffeine.

General Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women who are pregnant (as indicated by a positive urine pregnancy test assessed at intake and before each drug session) or nursing; women who are of childbearing potential and sexually active who are not practicing an effective means of birth control.
  • Cardiovascular conditions: coronary artery disease, stroke, angina, uncontrolled hypertension, a clinically significant ECG abnormality, heart valve, or transient ischemic attack in the past year. Resting heart rate may be no less than 50 beats per minute unless cleared by a cardiologist.
  • Epilepsy with history of seizures
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • First degree relative with schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders (except substance/medication-induced or due to another medical condition), or Bipolar I Disorder
  • Has a psychiatric condition judged to be incompatible with establishment of rapport or safe exposure to psilocybin

Treatment and study plan

Psilocybin

Drug

Participants will undergo up to four moderate to high dose psilocybin sessions. Dosing at the first session will be 20 mg. For subsequent sessions participants will either remain at their previous dose, or increase by increments of 5 mg up to a maximum of 30 mg.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Score

    Time frame: 1 week post final psilocybin session

    The HADS is a 14-item self-report questionnaire that assesses both anxiety (7 questions) and depression (7 questions). Each question is scored on a 4-point Likert scale from 0-3, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.

  2. Change in health related quality of life as assessed by the Eating Disorder Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS)

    Time frame: 2 months post final psilocybin session

    This is a 40-item self-report measure of health related quality of life that is specifically developed for eating disorder populations. Each question is rated on a 5 point scale from 1-5, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) score

    Time frame: 1 month post final psilocybin session

    This is a 28-item self-report score that measures severity of eating disorder symptoms across four domains that each make up a sub-scale: dietary restraint, eating concern, weight concern, and shape concern. A global score is calculated by averaging sub-scale scores. Sub-scale and global scores range from 0-6 with higher scores indicating higher severity.

  2. Change in Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) score

    Time frame: 1 month post final psilocybin session

    This is clinician-administered interview that measures severity of eating disorder symptoms across four domains that each make up a sub-scale: dietary restraint, eating concern, weight concern, and shape concern. A global score is calculated by averaging sub-scale scores.

  3. Change in Body mass index (BMI)

    Time frame: 3 months post final psilocybin session

    This is a measure of body mass calculated from height and weight (Kg/m^2).

  4. Change in Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ) score

    Time frame: 1 month post final psilocybin session

    The ANSOCQ is a 20-item self-administered questionnaire that places respondents in one of the five stages of change based on Prochaska and DiClemente's model. The maximum raw score is 100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of motivation. An overall classification of the stage of change is obtained by dividing the raw score by 5.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2023
First posted
Aug 12, 2019
Registry last updated
May 6, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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