Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Eating Disorders: A New Hope

Eating disorders (EDs) encompass a range of mental conditions that involve disturbances in a person’s eating behaviors. An ED can be challenging to treat because symptoms are biological and psychological. Those suffering from these disorders may feel frustrated when traditional treatments do not work. Ketamine-assisted therapy for eating disorders is an innovative, research-backed option offering new hope to individuals struggling with this serious disorder.

Understanding Eating Disorders and Their Treatment Challenges

Eating disorders affect about 16% of adults and up to 15% of children and adolescents. Common eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa: Commonly called anorexia, this condition may cause people to restrict what they eat or drink, often to a severe degree. It can also include binge eating and purging by vomiting or using laxatives. The results can be life-threatening and may include kidney problems, seizures, anemia and heart conditions.
• Bulimia nervosa: This condition involves a cycle of consuming large amounts of food followed by attempting to compensate with purging, fasting, over-exercising or laxative misuse.
• Binge eating disorder: Similar to bulimia, sufferers may eat excessive amounts of food, but in the case of binge eating disorder, they tend not to follow this behavior with purging. Many with this condition often feel a lack of control over their eating behaviors and may even eat to the point of feeling sick.
• Other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED): Some people may have serious problems with eating, food or body image, but their symptoms do not fit exactly into one of the other ED categories. Despite that, they can still suffer from social withdrawal and medical conditions like bone loss, malnutrition and heart problems.
• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): This condition is characterized by food avoidance based on texture, color or smell and extreme anxiety about the consequences of eating, including choking, constipation or allergic reactions. Infants, children and adults can be affected.
• Pica: With this condition, a person repeatedly eats items that are not food, like paper, hair, chalk or soil. This places them at risk of intestinal blockages or poisoning.
• Rumination disorder: Involves repeatedly bringing food back up into the mouth to re-chew, swallow again or spit out the food. This behavior is not the result of a medical problem and is repeated over several months.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), nutritional counseling and medications are standard treatments for EDs. These treatments result in a full recovery about 50% of the time, while 20% to 30% of sufferers experience a partial recovery.

One explanation for this rate of recovery is that eating disorders have biological and psychological symptoms. These potentially include:

• Chemical imbalances in the brain.
• Gastrointestinal syndromes.
• Anxiety and stress.
• Low self-esteem and social exclusion.

What Is Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?

Ketamine was introduced as an anesthetic in the 1960s and first used for psychiatric disorders in the 1970s, primarily for treatment-resistant depression. While ketamine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a general anesthetic, it is prescribed under medical supervision for “off-label” uses to treat conditions like depression and eating disorders. When taken intranasally, ketamine is FDA-approved as SPRAVATO^™.

Ketamine treatment for eating disorders is administered by expert psychiatrists and medical professionals in a controlled environment. It is usually delivered by intravenous (IV) infusions or intranasally. Throughout treatment, a patient is closely monitored for safety in a quiet room. Before a session, the process and a patient’s expectations are discussed to prepare them for all aspects of the treatment.

Ketamine therapy for eating disorders is combined with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) to optimize the therapeutic outcomes.

How Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Eating Disorders Works

Ketamine acts on the brain’s N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, involved in learning and memory. By blocking these receptors, ketamine increases the brain’s ability to form new connections — a process called neuroplasticity. This “pro-plasticity” effect may help patients break out of deeply ingrained, unhealthy thought patterns about food and self-worth, making it easier to adopt healthier behaviors and attitudes.

Many people with eating disorders also struggle with depression, which can make recovery even more difficult. Ketamine is well-known for its fast antidepressant effects, and research suggests that ketamine, when used for eating disorders, can help improve ED symptoms and depression at the same time. This dual benefit may be especially important for people who have not responded to traditional antidepressant medications.

Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?

Caring psychologists or psychiatrists will assess your condition and suitability for ketamine treatment for your eating disorder. You can start by answering these questions:

1. Have you tried different medication combinations or dosages without relieving your symptoms?
2. Did other standard therapies fail to bring a lasting and full recovery?
3. Do you have any of the contraindications — pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disease, a history of psychosis, substance abuse or increased intracranial pressure?

If you answered “yes” to the first two questions and “no” to the third, you could be a candidate for ketamine-assisted therapy. Every person’s situation is unique, and a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional is essential. Your provider will review your medical history, current medications and overall health to make sure ketamine is a safe and appropriate option for you.

It’s also important to consider your support system and readiness to engage in therapy, as ketamine for eating disorders is most effective when combined with ongoing psychological support. Many people find that ketamine can help them break through barriers that have kept them stuck, making it easier to participate in therapy and work toward their recovery goals.

Start Your Journey Toward Healing Today

At Principium Psychiatry, you’ll benefit from a truly team-based approach to care. Our clinic has the collective expertise of psychiatrists, psychologists, and medical professionals. With convenient locations in Midtown Manhattan (NYC), Greenwich, Connecticut and Santa Monica, California, advanced mental health care is accessible to individuals across the country.

In addition to ketamine-assisted therapy, we offer a range of interventional psychiatric treatments, including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This integrated approach allows us to combine therapies as needed, providing comprehensive support for even the most complex cases.

Above all, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. Our team is highly trained in monitoring and managing ketamine treatments, and we have a strong track record of helping patients with treatment-resistant conditions achieve meaningful improvements. Even if previous treatments haven’t helped secure a lasting recovery for you, do not lose hope. Reaching out for help and taking the first step toward recovery is an achievement in itself.

Take a look at our ketamine therapy FAQs for more about this treatment, contact us for information or book an appointment online today.