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Examining changes in personality following shamanic ceremonial use of ayahuasca

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Weiss, Brandon, Miller, Joshua D., Carter, Nathan T., Keith Campbell, W.·2021·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-84746-0PMC PMC7987971

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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.

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  • Recent evidence suggests acute and post-acute cognitive reappraisal and psychological flexibility support introspection and reframing of difficult life experiences and negative core beliefs.

    “Among these cognitive-affective changes, recent evidence suggests that acute and post-acute experiences of cognitive reappraisal and psychological flexibility support introspection and the reframing of difficult life experiences and negative core beliefs (Weiss et al., 2021).”

    From Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca (2022) · cites this paper as Weiss et al., 2021

    The Discussion describes reappraisal during ayahuasca ceremony as introspective reconsideration of difficult life experiences and negative core beliefs, and says it resembles psychological flexibility. The Results associate that acute reappraisal with later personality change, but do not establish post-acute reappraisal or psychological flexibility as experiences supporting the reframing claimed here. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Ayahuasca produces emotional dream-like experiences with cognitive-affective changes and spiritual insights that have been linked to substantial and enduring antidepressant effects.

    “Ayahuasca stimulates emotional dream-like experiences involving potent cognitive-affective changes and spiritual insights (Dobkin de Rios, 1971) that have been associated with substantial and enduring antidepressant effects (Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019; Weiss et al., 2021).”

    From Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca (2022) · cites this paper as Weiss et al., 2021

    The Discussion (‘Does ceremonial use of ayahuasca prompt change in personality?’; page unavailable) reports a substantial decline in neuroticism that persisted three months after ceremony and says the result is consistent with previous findings on major depression. The Results (‘Examining moderation of personality change’; page unavailable) associate mystical experiences with larger declines in neuroticism, not with measured antidepressant effects. Weiss et al. therefore support a lasting, related personality change, but not the claimed link between those experiences and substantial, enduring antidepressant effects. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The AEI Reappraisal scale is a novel measure that has not yet undergone comprehensive psychometric validation.

    “The AEI Reappraisal scale is a novel measure that was piloted in the primary study (Weiss et al., 2021) and has not yet undergone comprehensive psychometric validation.”

    From Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca (2022) · cites this paper as Weiss et al., 2021

    The Measures > Experiential factors section (page unavailable) identifies AEI Reappraisal as a scale and reports factor analyses on the study’s own data and internal-consistency results. It does not state that the scale has not undergone comprehensive psychometric validation; it also cites a separate AEI development work, so the claim that it was piloted in this study needs qualification. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • These processes appear associated with adaptive changes in neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

    “These processes appear to be associated with adaptive changes in neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness (Weiss et al., 2021).”

    From Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca (2022) · cites this paper as Weiss et al., 2021

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Weiss, B., Miller, J. D., Carter, N. T., & Keith Campbell, W.
Affiliations
University of Georgia (US)
Corresponding author
Weiss, Brandon
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-03-23
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
6653-6653
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-84746-0
PMC
PMC7987971
OpenAlex
W3107630502
Cited by
86
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1
FWCI
10.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
Keywords
ayahuasca, personality change, Big Five personality traits, neuroticism, Banisteriopsis caapi, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, demographic moderators
MeSH terms
Ceremonial Behavior, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Hallucinogens, Humans, Personality, Personality Disorders, Plant Extracts, Risk Factors, Shamanism, Banisteriopsis, Self Report

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