Loh, Nadine and Luke, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2141-2453 (2025) Exploring the role of psychedelic experiences on wellbeing and symptoms of disordered eating. Psychoactives, 4 (1):7. pp. 1-39. ISSN 2813-1851 (Online) (doi:10.3390/psychoactives4010007)

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Abstract

Accumulating psychedelic research has demonstrated a potential for improving mental health and wellbeing, yet studies in the context of eating disorders (EDs) are lim- ited. This study aims to explore the subjective effects of psychedelic experiences to gain insight into the benefits and risks for people with EDs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adults aged 25–54 (mean age = 36.9), reporting to have had expe- riences with EDs and psychedelics in both naturalistic and clinical settings. Participants had multiple diagnoses and suffered chronic EDs, (mean age of onset = 13), diagnosed (N = 7) and undiagnosed (N = 1). Reports of cessation or the reduction of ED symptoms were unanimous and long-lasting for seven, with two participants reporting recovery attributed to psychedelic use. Two participants reported relapsing, attributed to environ- mental factors in the months following. Thematic analysis resulted in two superordinate themes, each comprising three subordinate themes. The first superordinate theme, ‘Ex- ploring’ via the ‘gateway to healing’, illustrates mental, emotional, and transcendental elements of psychedelic experiences. The second superordinate theme, ‘Transformation’ and being ‘able to do the work’, illustrates cognitive and behavioural outcomes, with retrospective safety perceptions. These findings may provide more in-depth information on what benefits and experiences people with EDs can obtain from the use of psychedelic drugs and may inform more robust investigations of psychedelic-assisted therapy for the treatment of EDs.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Hallucinogens in Mental Health.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	psychedelics, psilocybin, ayahuasca, psychedelic experience, psychedelic-assisted therapy, treatment resistant, chronic, eating disorders, anorexia
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Mental Health Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	06 Mar 2025 11:04
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/49974

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