Positive effects of psychedelics on depression and wellbeing scores in individuals reporting an eating disorder
Abstract
Purpose Psychedelic therapy is showing promise for a broad range of mental health conditions, indicative of a transdiagnostic action. While the efficacy of symptom-focused treatments for eating disorders (EDs) is limited, improved mental health and psychological wellbeing are thought to contribute to greater treatment outcomes. This study provides the first quantitative exploration of the psychological effects of psychedelics in those reporting an ED diagnosis.Methods Prospective, online data were collected from individuals planning to take a psychedelic drug. Twenty-eight participants reporting a lifetime ED diagnosis completed measures of depressive symptomology (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology; QIDS-SR16) and psychological wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale; WEMWBS) 1-2 weeks before, and 2 weeks after a psychedelic experience. Twenty-seven of these participants also completed a measure of emotional breakthrough [Emotional Breakthrough Inventory (EBI)] in relation to the acute psychedelic experience.Results Bayesian t tests demonstrated overwhelming evidence for improvements in depression and wellbeing scores following the psychedelic experience. Marginal evidence was also found for a correlation between emotional breakthrough and the relevant mental health improvements.Conclusion These findings provide supportive evidence for positive psychological aftereffects of a psychedelic experience that are relevant to the treatment of EDs. It is hoped that this will encourage further research and will bolster initiatives to directly examine the safety and efficacy of psychedelic assisted therapy as a treatment of EDs in future clinical trials.Level of evidence Level III, cohort study.
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One study conducted with individuals reporting a lifetime diagnosis of an eating disorder provided some evidence that greater experiences of an emotional breakthrough related to greater reductions in depression symptomology following a psychedelic experience.
“One study conducted with individuals reporting a lifetime diagnosis of an eating disorder provided some evidence that greater experiences of an emotional breakthrough related to greater reductions in depression symptomology following a psychedelic experience [54].”
From The psychological processes of classic psychedelics in the treatment of depression: a systematic review protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [54]
That finding was only at trend level and was not statistically significant.
“This finding was only at trend level and was not statistically significant.”
From The psychological processes of classic psychedelics in the treatment of depression: a systematic review protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [54]
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“One study conducted with individuals reporting a lifetime diagnosis of an eating disorder provided some evidence that greater experiences of an emotional breakthrough related to greater reductions in depression symptomology following a psychedelic experience [54].”
Background
- Authors
- Spriggs, M. J., Kettner, H., & Carhart-Harris, R. L.
- Affiliations
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Spriggs, M. J.
- Venue
- Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity
- Published
- 2020-09-08
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1265-1270
- ISSN
- 1124-4909 (ISSN-L)
- 1590-1262
- OpenAlex
- W3083797211
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 13
- FWCI
- 4.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ad Astra Chandaria Foundation
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Keywords
- psychedelics, eating disorders, depression, psychological well-being, psychedelic therapy, transdiagnostic treatment
- MeSH terms
- Feeding and Eating Disorders, Bayes Theorem, Depression, Hallucinogens, Humans, Prospective Studies, Cohort Studies
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