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Published May 29, 2021 • Last updated Jun 01, 2021 • 2 minute read
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Dr. Reid Robison is a psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of Novamind. Photo by Screengrab /Novamind.ca
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Eating disorders are difficult to treat.
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They are among the most deadly mental health conditions, second only to opioid overdose.
An estimated 5% to 20% of patients with anorexia nervosa, for example, will die from complications of the disease.
About 25% of those with anorexia nervosa, bulimia or binge eating attempt suicide.
There are virtually no FDA approved drugs to treat anorexia, but there is finally hope on the horizon through psychedelics.
Ketamine, MDMA and psilocybin are proving useful with treatment-resistant mental illnesses, including eating disorders.
Dr. Reid Robison is a psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of Novamind, a Toronto-based mental health company focused on psychedelic research and treatments. Novamind offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy; the company announced three weeks ago that it is doubling its clinic numbers from four to eight, anticipating a 225% increase in client visits this year.
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“The bottom line here is what psychedelic medicine does to enhance neuroplasticity,” said Robison in a recent interview.
“It opens a window of opportunity for therapeutic work, giving the mind a break from tightly held, long held patterns. Psychedelics turn down the default network, and enhance the ability to now consciously choose thoughts and actions.”
The window lasts for days afterward, he added, extending the opportunity to do therapeutic work.
Robison has seen psychedelics help countless individuals.
He and his colleagues are always trying to find more treatment options.
“And then about 10 years ago, along came ketamine. It’s been around for years as an anesthetic, of course, but this was for for treatment-resistant depression. I was sitting with people before, during and after treatment and I was blown away by what I saw. It’s not just a treatment for depression.
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“There are so many other benefits.”
In the last few years, research in psychedelics has expanded to include psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca — what Robison calls classic psychedelics. He’s been working with the nonprofit MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) on an upcoming study into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for eating disorders.
It’s time for action on eating disorders, said Robison.
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“Anorexia has a high mortality rate. We need a sense of urgency. With cancer, nobody ever tells a patient, ‘Let’s wait until it’s a stage three or four before we intervene,’ but with eating disorders, between the stigma and the reluctance of insurance companies, we do see that. ‘We can’t admit you, you’re not sick enough yet to receive intensive treatment.’
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“That’s not OK! This illness is underfunded and under recognized. It needs more research, more treatment options, more advocacy.”
Canada, he said, has been leading the way in the study and use of these potential medications.
“I believe we have some promising tools coming down the pike. Psilocybin and MDMA are only in research studies, so we’re working mostly with ketamine combined with psychotherapy and having very positive results.”
Initially, he said, there was a bit of stigma attached to these therapies.
“People called me 10 years ago and asked, ‘How can you use ketamine in psychiatric work?’ And I wanted to say, ‘How can you not be using it when so many are suffering?’ Especially with this impressive efficacy.
“It’s our obligation to look for new and improved modalities.”
lbraun@postmedia.com
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