Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms
This survey study (n=2,974) found that neurotic individuals may be more likely to have a challenging experience with psilocybin.
Authors
- Roland Griffiths
- Matthew Johnson
- Frederick Barrett
Published
Abstract
Objectives
Classic hallucinogens (e.g. psilocybin and LSD) have substantial effects on perception, cognition, and emotion that can often be psychologically challenging, however we know very little regarding the source of significant individual variability that has been observed in the frequency and intensity of challenging experiences (i.e. “bad trips”) with psychedelics. Previous clinical and observational literature suggests that there may be an association between neuroticism and challenging psychedelic experiences.
Methods
Data from two online surveys of challenging experiences with psilocybin were analyzed. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the associations between total score and scores from seven sub-factors (fear, grief, physical distress, insanity, isolation, death, and paranoia) of the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), and scale scores from the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) in Study 1 (N = 1993) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI) in Study 2 (N = 981).
Results
CEQ scores were negatively associated with emotional stability scores (the inverse of neuroticism) in Study 1 and positively associated with neuroticism scores in Study 2.
Conclusions
Neuroticism may contribute to the strength of challenging experiences with psychedelics in uncontrolled settings.
Research Summary of 'Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms'
Introduction
Classic hallucinogens such as psilocybin produce a wide range of perceptual, cognitive and emotional effects that can be intensely positive or deeply challenging. Earlier research has pointed to set (the person’s internal state and intentions), setting (the environment) and personality traits as key sources of individual variability in psychedelic responses, but evidence linking specific personality dimensions to the frequency and intensity of challenging experiences is inconsistent. Small clinical and observational studies have suggested a positive association between neuroticism and ‘bad trips’, whereas a pooled analysis of controlled studies reported no relationship, possibly because those studies screened out participants with high neuroticism or provided highly supportive laboratory conditions that mitigate challenging effects. Barrett and colleagues set out to test whether neuroticism is associated with the strength of challenging experiences in large, naturalistic samples. To do so they analysed data from two separate online surveys of difficult experiences with psilocybin mushrooms, using established measures of challenging experience and Five Factor Model personality traits. The primary hypothesis was that higher neuroticism would predict stronger challenging experiences as measured by the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ).
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
- Topic
- Authors
- APA Citation
Barrett, F. S., Johnson, M. W., & Griffiths, R. R. (2017). Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms. Personality and Individual Differences, 117, 155-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.004
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