Personality change in a trial of psilocybin therapy v. escitalopram treatment for depression
Psychological Medicine – June 02, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin therapy significantly reduced Neuroticism (B=-0.63) and Impulsivity (B=-0.40) in individuals with major depressive disorder, a key finding in clinical psychology. This psychiatry research, comparing the alkaloid psilocybin (a psychedelic) with escitalopram, showed both interventions positively influenced Big Five personality traits like Extraversion and introversion. Understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, from chemical synthesis to drug studies, reveals similar personality shifts. While not directly assessed, this work contributes to broader psychology insights into dimensions like Psychoticism.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocybin Therapy (PT) is being increasingly studied as a psychiatric intervention. Personality relates to mental health and can be used to probe the nature of PT's therapeutic action. Methods In a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, active comparator controlled trial involving patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder, we compared psilocybin with escitalopram, over a core 6-week trial period. Five-Factor model personality domains, Big Five Aspect Scale Openness aspects, Absorption, and Impulsivity were measured at Baseline, Week 6, and Month 6 follow-up. Results PT was associated with decreases in neuroticism ( B = −0.63), introversion ( B = −0.38), disagreeableness ( B = −0.47), impulsivity ( B = −0.40), and increases in absorption ( B = 0.32), conscientiousness ( B = 0.30), and openness ( B = 0.23) at week 6, with neuroticism ( B = −0.47) and disagreeableness ( B = −0.41) remaining decreased at month 6. Escitalopram Treatment (ET) was associated with decreases in neuroticism ( B = −0.38), disagreeableness ( B = −0.26), impulsivity ( B = −0.35), and increases in openness ( B = 0.28) at week 6, with neuroticism ( B = −0.46) remaining decreased at month 6. No significant between-condition differences were observed. Conclusions Personality changes across both conditions were in a direction consistent with improved mental health. With the possible exception of trait absorption, there were no compelling between-condition differences warranting conclusions regarding a selective action of PT ( v. ET) on personality; however, post-ET changes in personality were significantly moderated by pre-trial positive expectancy for escitalopram, whereas expectancy did not moderate response to PT.