Journal of Psychopharmacology
March 1, 2022
Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Richard J. Zeifman, Jason B. Luoma et al.
51 citations
People who participated in ayahuasca retreats in Central and South America reported reduced negative mood and increased positive mood and psychological flexibility three months later. Acute experiences of cognitive reappraisal during the ceremony were the strongest predictor of improvements in positive mood and flexibility. Increases in psychological flexibility statistically accounted for the link between acute psychological factors, including reappraisal, and later mood improvements. The findings suggest that acute reappraisal and subsequent gains in psychological flexibility are key mechanisms behind psychedelic-assisted therapy's benefits, supporting the integration of mindfulness-based and third-wave therapy approaches with such interventions.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 8, 2023
Brandon Weiss, Chelsea Sleep, Nicholas M. Beller et al.
11 citations
People who use psychedelics tend to be more open and extraverted and less neurotic than non-users, and non-users interested in trying psychedelics are more open and neurotic than uninterested non-users. An online survey of 218 psychedelic users, 104 interested non-users, and 104 uninterested non-users identified 52 themes of perceived personality change attributed to the most intense psychedelic experience, which clustered into eight factors: Unitive Spiritual, Gratitude Absorption, Purpose Freedom, Compassion Understanding, Emotional Stability, Openness Perspective, Connection to Self, and Neuroticism Caution. The findings suggest that personality traits influence who uses psychedelics, and that setting and drug type moderate different types of personality changes.
Research Square (Research Square)
November 30, 2020
Brandon Weiss, Joshua Miller, Nathan Carter et al.
7 citations
A longitudinal study of 256 participants at three ayahuasca healing centers in South and Central America found that ceremonial ayahuasca use was associated with a large reduction in Neuroticism, a key personality trait linked to emotional stability. This change was observed both in self-reports (effect size d = 1.00 from baseline to post-use, d = 0.85 at three-month follow-up) and in reports from informants (d = 0.62 at follow-up). The degree of personality change was moderated by participants' baseline personality, acute experiences during the ceremony, and purgative experiences. The findings suggest ayahuasca ceremonies may contribute to lasting personality change, particularly in reducing Neuroticism.