Exploring the role of psychedelic experiences on wellbeing and symptoms of disordered eating
Psychoactives March 4, 2025 Nadine Loh, David Luke 2 citations
Eight adults with chronic eating disorders (mean age of onset 13) reported their experiences with psychedelics in naturalistic and clinical settings. Seven of the eight reported lasting cessation or reduction of eating disorder symptoms, with two attributing full recovery to psychedelic use. Two participants relapsed months later due to environmental factors. Thematic analysis identified two overarching themes: 'Exploring' as a 'gateway to healing' covering mental, emotional, and transcendental aspects of the experience, and 'Transformation' enabling cognitive and behavioral changes alongside retrospective safety perceptions. The findings offer detailed insights into potential benefits and risks of psychedelic experiences for people with eating disorders and may guide future research into psychedelic-assisted therapy.