Psychedelics & Eating Disorders: A New Treatment Frontier? with Anya Ragnhildstveit

Examining new approaches to some of the most complex and underserved areas in mental health

About

Eating disorders are among the most difficult conditions to treat, disproportionately affecting women and carrying some of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness.

As psychedelic research accelerates, interest is growing in whether these compounds could support deep psychological change in conditions that have long resisted conventional approaches.

This raises an important question:

Could psychedelics offer a new pathway for treating eating disorders?

This event, hosted by The Psychedelic Society, explores the intersection of psychedelic-assisted therapy and eating disorder treatment, while critically examining the current evidence, limitations, and ethical considerations, particularly in the context of women’s health.

The talk will begin with a presentation by Anya, followed by a live audience Q&A.

What we’ll explore

• Why eating disorders are so difficult to treat
• The current treatment landscape and unmet clinical needs
• Overview of psychedelic-assisted therapies (e.g. MDMA, psilocybin)
• Proposed mechanisms: rigidity, self-concept, emotional processing
• Early clinical findings and ongoing trials
• Risks, contraindications, and patient safety
• Ethical considerations in vulnerable populations
• The role of gender and women’s health in research
• What the future of treatment may look like

⚠️ Please note: This is an educational event. No medical or clinical advice can be given during this session.

Why attend?

As interest in psychedelic therapies grows, so too does speculation around their potential applications.

This event offers a grounded, evidence-based perspective on a rapidly evolving area of research,  bringing clarity, nuance, and critical insight to an important and often overlooked topic.

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or simply curious, this session is designed to inform and challenge in equal measure.

Can’t attend the live event? No problem -  all ticket holders will get access to the recording.

Your Speaker

Anya Ragnhildstveit is a Clinical Research Scientist and PhD Candidate in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, where she is a member of the Cambridge Psychedelic Research Group (CPRG). She also works as a Psychedelic Facilitator on several industry-sponsored clinical trials at Inner Space Research. In addition, Anya is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pneuma Science, an international research center dedicated to harnessing the potential of plant medicines and next-generation neuroplastogens to promote inner healing, self-actualization, and human flourishing. 

Drawing on more than 13 years of lived experience, Anya’s work focuses on developing, testing, and implementing models of psychedelic-assisted therapy for individuals with eating disorders. She published the world’s first case report on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa, has conducted multiple observational studies on psychedelic use for eating disorders in real-world settings, and is currently designing a multi-site clinical trial of MDMA-assisted Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy for anorexia nervosa at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with Imperial College London and Inner Space Research. 

Anya also serves on the Lived Experience Advisory Panel for the EDEN Study at King’s College London, a clinical trial evaluating ketamine for people with anorexia and major depression.

Your Organiser 

Ryan is the Online Events Coordinator for The Psychedelic Society and a life-long psychedelic enthusiast. He is completing his MSc in Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine & Culture at The University of Exeter where he specialised in the extra-pharmacological factors affecting psychedelic assisted therapy. Ryan also sits at the intersection of psychedelic research, education and therapy. He works as a Research Assistant at Pneuma Science, Consultant at Psilonautica and Trip Sitter at Beautiful Space. 

Follow Ryan on LinkedIn.

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