Swedish adults who have used psychedelics at least once report less depression than non-users who are the same sex and age, but also report more drug use. The difference in depression is partly explained by lower neuroticism among users. Psychedelic users also score much higher on openness to experience, a personality trait. The findings come from a national online survey comparing 400 psychedelic users with 400 matched non-users.
Most people who have had a psychedelic experience rank it among the most meaningful events in their lives, and personality traits shape how the experience unfolds. In a survey of 400 experienced users, those higher in openness reported more mystical and positive aspects, while those higher in neuroticism reported more challenging and negative aspects. The findings suggest that individual differences in personality influence both the quality and lasting impact of psychedelic experiences, and future research should measure and control for these traits.
Adolescents aged 18–24 who use classical psychedelics report more adverse outcomes—including confusion, fear, and negative personality change—than adults aged 25 and older, even after accounting for personality traits. Positive effects such as meaningfulness, mystical-type experiences, and relationship improvements do not differ between age groups. Neuroticism explains more of the variation in adverse outcomes than age does. The findings suggest that while adolescents may gain similar positive benefits from psychedelics as adults, they may be more vulnerable to negative effects, highlighting the need for further longitudinal research on developmental stage and individual differences.