Anorexia nervosa is one of the most serious mental health conditions that can cause fatal health complications.. It often goes hand in hand with depression, anxiety, and rigid, repetitive thinking, which can make recovery feel out of reach even with good care.

Why is ketamine being studied?

Ketamine has shown rapid relief for treatment-resistant depression, and researchers are curious whether it could also help with the mood symptoms and inflexible thought patterns common in anorexia. Early studies and case reports are encouraging, but they are small.

What the research says

Research is still early and ketamine is not an FDA-approved treatment for anorexia nervosa.

Some patients with co-occurring depression or anxiety have reported improved mood after treatment.

According to study results published in Journal of Eating Disorders, Ketamine Adjuvant Treatment is associated with significant improvements in BMI and reductions in cognitive rigidity among patients with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa , regardless of mood or suicidal ideation, with effects becoming noticeable from the fourth or fifth session onward and no reported adverse events.

Larger, controlled trials are needed to understand safety and long-term benefit.

Safety comes first

Anorexia can cause medical complications such as low heart rate and electrolyte imbalance. Any treatment decision should involve your eating disorder team, and medical stability must come first. At our practice, every infusion is administered and supervised by Dr. Goyal himself.

Support alongside treatment

Ketamine, when appropriate, is best considered as one piece of a bigger plan that includes nutrition support and therapy. We also offer free access to web-based cognitive behavior therapy programs.