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

Among adults with eating disorders, about one in three reported having used a psychedelic drug at some point, and one in five had used one in the past year. Users tended to be younger, less likely to take prescription drugs or be hospitalized for their eating disorder, and more likely to use other non-prescription drugs and to have ADHD, PTSD, ASD, or substance misuse. Those with anorexia nervosa were less likely to report psychedelic use, while those with an undiagnosed eating disorder were more likely. Qualitative comments described profound transformation, increased connectedness, and new insights into illness, though a few reported bad trips or worsened symptoms. The findings suggest psychedelics may hold promise for this population and warrant clinical trials.

Study at a glance

Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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.