Examining changes in personality following shamanic ceremonial use of ayahuasca.

A study of 256 participants from three ayahuasca healing centers in South and Central America examined changes in the Five-Factor personality traits after ceremonial use of the psychedelic brew. The largest change was a large reduction in Neuroticism, observed in both self-reports and informant reports, with effect sizes ranging from −0.62 to −1.00 across timepoints. Baseline personality, acute experiences during the ceremony, and purging experiences moderated the degree of personality change. The findings suggest that ceremonial ayahuasca use is associated with substantial decreases in emotional instability.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The present study examines the association between the ceremonial use of ayahuasca—a decoction combining the Banistereopsis caapi vine and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine-containing plants—and changes in personality traits as conceived by the Five-Factor model (FFM). We also examine the degree to which demographic characteristics, baseline personality, and acute post-ayahuasca experiences affect personality change. Participants recruited from three ayahuasca healing and spiritual centers in South and Central America (N = 256) completed self-report measures of personality at three timepoints (Baseline, Post, 3-month Follow-up). Informant-report measures of the FFM were also obtained (N = 110). Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in personality and the moderation of those changes by covariates. The most pronounced change was a reduction in Neuroticism dz self-reportT1–T2 = − 1.00; dz self-reportT1–T3 = − .85; dz informant-reportT1–T3 = − .62), reflected in self- and informant-report data. Moderation of personality change by baseline personality, acute experiences, and purgative experiences was also observed.