Rosiel Elwyn

This study is an open-label, dose-ranging clinical trial aiming to explore the safety, feasibility and tolerability of a sub-anaesthetic dose of oral ketamine and combined zinc supplementation for individuals with low and higher weight anorexia nervous (AN and ‘atypical’ AN) of all gender identities aged 18-30 years. Participants will undergo 6 weeks of a combined novel psycho-pharmaceutical treatment, with continual supplementation for the remainder 6 weeks of the trial to support neuroplastic brain changes (synaptic remodelling). Medical, mental health and cognitive assessments and brain imaging will occur at study entry and at two additional time points. Gut microbiome fecal sampling collection will occur at study entry and at 6 weeks of the combined treatment. The primary objective is to determine the safety, feasibility and tolerability of the novel psycho-pharmaceutical treatment in young participants diagnosed with early onset, chronic AN. Additionally, it aims to determine the influence of the treatment on low and higher weight AN in psychological, cognitive and behavioural domains, on interoceptive function and on the gut microbiome. Exploratory objectives include gut microbial profiles, neuroimaging and blood biomarker correlates associated with and/or predictive of treatment response.