Psychedelic use in individuals living with eating disorders or disordered eating: findings from the international MED–FED survey

Summary & key facts

Researchers ran an international online survey of adults with eating disorders or serious disordered eating to ask about their use of psychedelic drugs. About 5,200 people answered. Roughly one third said they had tried psychedelics at some point and about one in five had used them in the past year. Many users reported once-or-twice-a-year use of mushrooms (psilocybin), LSD, or similar drugs. In written answers, some people said these experiences helped them feel more connected and gave new insights into their illness, while a small number reported bad trips or worse eating-disorder symptoms. The study does not prove these drugs work as treatments, but it shows people with eating problems are using psychedelics and that more careful research is needed to test whether they are safe and helpful.

Key facts:

• The survey included about 5,200 adults who said they had an eating disorder or distressing disordered eating.
• About one third of respondents said they had ever used a psychedelic drug, and about one in five had used one in the last year.
• Typical use was infrequent, often once or twice per year, and commonly involved psilocybin mushrooms or LSD.
• People who had recently used psychedelics were younger and were less likely to be taking prescription drugs or to have been recently hospitalized for their eating disorder.
• Recent users were more likely to also use other non-prescription drugs such as cannabis or ketamine and were more likely to report having ADHD, PTSD, or substance misuse.
• People with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa were less likely to report psychedelic use, while people with an undiagnosed eating problem were more likely to report use.
• In open-ended comments, many users described big personal changes, more feeling connected to others, and new insights about their illness after psychedelic experiences.
• A small number of people reported negative outcomes: about 15 described a “bad trip” and about 8 said their eating-disorder symptoms got worse after using psychedelics.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are few effective treatments for eating disorders (EDs), and new interventions are urgently needed. The MEDication and other drugs For Eating Disorders ("MED-FED") survey investigated the lived experience of adults with EDs regarding their prescription and non-prescription drugs use. Psychedelic drugs were highly rated in this survey for their impact on ED symptoms and general mental health. Here, we provide a more granular analysis of a subset of the data pertaining to psychedelic drug use from this survey. METHODS: The MED-FED survey recruited adults who self-reported either a clinically diagnosed ED or disordered eating that was currently undiagnosed but causing significant distress. The demographics of recent and lifetime psychedelic users relative to non-users were examined, as well as their use of other prescription and non-prescription drugs, and co-morbid conditions. Qualitative analysis was used to examine themes emerging from open-ended comments around use of psychedelic drugs. RESULTS: Of the 5247 participants who completed the survey, 1699/5247 (32.4%) reported lifetime psychedelic use, with 1019/5247 (19.4%) having used in the last 12 months. Typical use involved infrequent consumption, once or twice per year, of psilocybin, LSD, 2-CB, or DMT. Those who reported recent psychedelic use were younger and less likely to currently use prescription drugs or to have been recently hospitalised for their ED. They were more likely to use other non-prescription drugs (e.g. cannabis, ketamine, stimulants) and to report co-morbid ADHD, PTSD, ASD, and substance misuse. Participants with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa were less likely to report psychedelic use, while those with an undiagnosed ED were more likely. Qualitative analysis of responses (n = 200) revealed themes of profound transformation, increased connectedness, and new insights into illness following psychedelic experiences. A handful of respondents reported benefits from microdosing. A few respondents reported adverse outcomes in their open-ended comments, including "bad trips" (n = 15) and worsened ED symptoms (n = 8) after psychedelic use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a unique insight into psychedelic use among individuals with EDs. The results align with emerging evidence suggesting that psychedelics may be beneficial in this population, highlighting the need for further research, including clinical trials, to explore their efficacy and safety.

Topics

Coffee research and impacts Eating Disorders and Behaviors Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Clinical psychology Disordered eating Eating disorders Psychology

Substances

Cannabis Ketamine LSD Other Psilocybin

Conditions & symptoms

ADHD Eating Disorder PTSD Substance abuse disorder Addiction or harmful habbits Feeling disconnected from others Panic Poor appetite or overeating Sadness or low mood