Scientific reports
June 9, 2023
Brandon Weiss, Aleksandra Wingert, David Erritzoe et al.
32 citations
Ayahuasca ceremonies commonly trigger reexperiencing of adverse life events, with women more likely to reexperience sexual assault, veterans more likely to reexperience combat trauma, and individuals with PTSD showing higher prevalence of reexperiencing. Reexperiencing was associated with cognitive reappraisal, psychological flexibility, and discomfort during ceremonies. Participants who reexperienced adverse events showed greater reductions in trait neuroticism after ceremonies. The study tracked 33 military veterans and 306 non-veterans across three timepoints at ayahuasca centers in South and Central America.
Journal of personality disorders
April 1, 2023
Brandon Weiss, Chelsea Sleep, Joshua D Miller et al.
15 citations
After ceremonial use of ayahuasca, self-reported decreases in entitlement-exploitativeness and increases in leadership authority were observed among 314 adults, along with decreases in a proxy measure of narcissistic personality disorder. However, effect sizes were small, results varied across measures, and informants reported no significant changes. The findings offer modest support for adaptive change in narcissistic antagonism up to three months after the ceremonies, but meaningful changes in narcissism were not seen. More research is needed to evaluate psychedelic-assisted therapy for narcissistic traits, especially in individuals with higher antagonism and using antagonism-focused approaches.
The International journal on drug policy
November 1, 2025
Liam O Jarvis, Alexander H Jack, Niall Galbraith et al.
1 citation
The UK public holds a neutral, slightly negative attitude toward psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for depression, based on a cross-sectional survey of 951 adults. People who were younger, male, had used recreational drugs, and reported greater subjective knowledge about psychedelics were more likely to view PAT favorably. A history of depression itself did not shape attitudes or change how personal characteristics related to them. The findings suggest that low familiarity with PAT and concerns about its safety, efficacy, and social acceptability may explain the overall neutrality, highlighting the need for clear scientific communication to inform public understanding.