Psilocybin May Help Those Struggling With Body Image & BDD

We’ve all had days where we feel bad about our appearance — you see an unflattering picture of yourself and think — do I really look like that?!

But, imagine, if you can, just over 200 years ago… the photograph (and the camera) had not even been invented.

Picture, if you are able, a few thousand years before that — when the only time humans saw their reflection was if they looked in a pool of water!

In the space of a few thousand years we have become bombarded by our own image, something evolution never prepared us for. It’s no wonder that sometimes we feel overwhelmed.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

For people who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (body dysmorphia or BDD), ‘overwhelmed’ is an understatement. BDD is a metal health condition in which a person spends harmful amounts of time worrying about their appearance and perceived flaws (which are often invisible to others). BDD is not a form of vanity or self-obsession — it can be extremely harmful to people’s lives — sometimes leading to self-harm, self-isolation, or even suicide. 

Body dysmorphia is also notoriously hard to treat. Currently, the main treatment options are cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications, which have limited success for many sufferers. However, an exciting new study has proposed that psilocybin (from magic mushrooms and truffles) could be the answer, all thanks to its incredible ability to ‘rewire’ the brain. 

The First Study to Look at Psilocybin’s Effect on BDD

The study, published in the journal Psychedelics, was led by scientists at Columbia University, and is the first of its kind to study psilocybin’s effect on brain function in those with BDD. Although the study itself was small in scale, the findings suggest that the psychedelic extract may be able to help to rewire the brain’s distorted body image circuitry. 

The team of researchers, led by Dr. Xi Zhu of Columbia University, administered a 25 mg dose of psilocybin to eight adults with moderate-to-severe BDD. None of them had previously found relief with standard treatments. They scanned the participants’ brains one day before taking psilocybin, and one day after using sophisticated resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). This imaging technique allows researchers to observe how different areas of the brain communicate with each other when in a state of rest. 

Significant Changes in Brain Activity Observed

Just 24 hours after the psilocybin session, the participants showed significant changes in brain connectivity. Most notably, there was increased communication within the Executive Control Network (ECN). The ECN is a brain system crucial for cognitive flexibility and goal-directed behavior. On top of this, the ECN was seen to have enhanced connections with two other important brain networks — the Default Mode Network (DMN) which is associated with self-reflection and introspection, and the Salience Network, whose role is to prioritize incoming information. Brain regions lighting up all over the place!

These observations weren’t just striking from a neuroscientific perspective — they could actually be used to predict the results each participant would experience. Those who showed the greatest increase in connectivity between networks were most likely to experience the most significant reduction in their BDD symptoms one week after treatment. 

The Effects of Psilocybin Were Not Fleeting

And, as we have seen with numerous other psilocybin studies, the benefits of this single dose persisted. The researchers followed up with the participants for 12 weeks and found that their BDD symptoms stayed significantly reduced throughout this period. 

The researchers hypothesize that psilocybin may work by enhancing cognitive flexibility and reducing the rigid thought patterns, which are characteristic of BDD. It could be that the increased connectivity between brain networks allows individuals to shift attention away from appearance-related fixation and regulate their emotions more effectively.

This study suggests that BDD treatment could be revolutionized by the introduction of psilocybin therapy, and possible other disorders characterized by distorted self-perception. Research into the use of psilocybin to treat Anorexia nervosa is already showing great promise, for example. However, for now it is key that these results are still approached with cautious optimism, as the study did have some limitations that are worth mentioning. 

Study Limitations

Firstly the sample size for the study was very small, consisting of only eight participants. There was also no placebo group, with all participants knowingly receiving psilocybin, which could have influenced their expectations and responses. 

The researchers emphasize that larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm these results and establish psilocybin as a safe and effective treatment for body dysmorphic disorder. 

Despite this, the study reveals another exciting range of possibilities for psychedelic assisted therapy. Research in this field continues apace, igniting hope for those who live with conditions that have proven resistant to the conventional treatments currently on offer. 

The Potential of Psilocybin To Help With Negative Self-Image

Psilocybin’s effectiveness does not lie in an ability to conjure a fantastical version of oneself, but in its potential to help us see ourselves clearly, as we really are. This is key for those who are trapped in the psychological prison of BDD. 

For those who do not suffer specifically from BDD, but may grapple with their body image from time to time, psilocybin in either a microdose, or a carefully-planned-trip form can still be of great help.

Psilocybin enables us to cut through the noise, and locate what is really important. To find inner beauty, connection, and unity with the wider world. When we feel good about ourselves, we are kinder, more open — and we make others feel good too.