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Cited by 141Psychedelics and Drug StudiesParanormal Experiences and BeliefsReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

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Validation of the Psychological Insight Scale: A new scale to assess psychological insight following a psychedelic experience

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Peill, Joseph M, Trinci, Katie E, Kettner, Hannes, Mertens, Lea J, Roseman, Leor, Timmermann, Christopher, Rosas, Fernando E, Lyons, Taylor, Carhart-Harris, Robin L·2022·Journal of Psychopharmacology
DOI 10.1177/02698811211066709PMC PMC8801624
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Abstract

Introduction: As their name suggests, ‘psychedelic’ (mind-revealing) compounds are thought to catalyse processes of psychological insight; however, few satisfactory scales exist to sample this. This study sought to develop a new scale to measure psychological insight after a psychedelic experience: the Psychological Insight Scale (PIS). Methods: The PIS is a six- to seven-item questionnaire that enquires about psychological insight after a psychedelic experience (PIS-6) and accompanied behavioural changes (PIS item 7). In total, 886 participants took part in a study in which the PIS and other questionnaires were completed in a prospective fashion in relation to a planned psychedelic experience. For validation purposes, data from 279 participants were analysed from a non-specific ‘global psychedelic survey’ study. Results: Principal components analysis of PIS scores revealed a principal component explaining 73.57% of the variance, which displayed high internal consistency at multiple timepoints throughout the study (average Cronbach’s α = 0.94). Criterion validity was confirmed using the global psychedelic survey study, and convergent validity was confirmed via the Therapeutic-Realizations Scale. Furthermore, PIS scores significantly mediated the relationship between emotional breakthrough and long-term well-being. Conclusion: The PIS is complementary to current subjective measures used in psychedelic studies, most of which are completed in relation to the acute experience. Insight – as measured by the PIS – was found to be a key mediator of long-term psychological outcomes following a psychedelic experience. Future research may investigate how insight varies throughout a psychedelic process, its underlying neurobiology and how it impacts behaviour and mental health.

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Figure 1. In a causal path analysis model, psychological well-being 2 weeks after a psychedelic experience is significantly predicted by the acute psychedelic state (CEQ, EBI, MEQ), while controlling for baseline well-being (not shown). Mystical and challenging experiences directly affect well-being, whereas the effect of emotional breakthrough experiences was mediated through psychological insight. Only paths and standardised coefficients significant below p = 0.05 are displayed. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. CEQ: Challenging Experience Questionnaire; EBI: Emotional Breakthrough Inventory; MEQ: Mystical Experience Questionnaire.
Figure 1. In a causal path analysis model, psychological well-being 2 weeks after a psychedelic experience is significantly predicted by the acute psychedelic state (CEQ, EBI, MEQ), while controlling for baseline well-being (not shown). Mystical and challenging experiences directly affect well-being, whereas the effect of emotional breakthrough experiences was mediated through psychological insight. Only paths and standardised coefficients significant below p = 0.05 are displayed. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. CEQ: Challenging Experience Questionnaire; EBI: Emotional Breakthrough Inventory; MEQ: Mystical Experience Questionnaire.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2. Correlation analysis between well-being scores (WEMWBS) at 2 weeks post-retreat and psychological insight (as measured using the PIS) at 1-day post-retreat. Participants with low baseline WEMWBS (⩽43) demonstrated the strongest correlation (rs = 0.506, n = 120), followed by all participants (rs = 0.344, n = 312). Displayed are the Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs). WEMWBS: Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale; PIS: Psychological Insight Scale. ***p < 0.001.
Figure 2. Correlation analysis between well-being scores (WEMWBS) at 2 weeks post-retreat and psychological insight (as measured using the PIS) at 1-day post-retreat. Participants with low baseline WEMWBS (⩽43) demonstrated the strongest correlation (rs = 0.506, n = 120), followed by all participants (rs = 0.344, n = 312). Displayed are the Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs). WEMWBS: Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale; PIS: Psychological Insight Scale. ***p < 0.001.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3. Predictive validity in study 2: Correlation analyses of psychological insight (PIS-6) measured 1-day post-psychedelic experience with changes in well-being (as measured by the WEMWBS) after 2 weeks (ΔWEMWBS2 weeks) within the total sample (n = 190) and low well-being subgroup (baseline WEMWBS score ⩽43, n = 69). Displayed are the Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs). WEMWBS: Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. ***p < 0.001.
Figure 3. Predictive validity in study 2: Correlation analyses of psychological insight (PIS-6) measured 1-day post-psychedelic experience with changes in well-being (as measured by the WEMWBS) after 2 weeks (ΔWEMWBS2 weeks) within the total sample (n = 190) and low well-being subgroup (baseline WEMWBS score ⩽43, n = 69). Displayed are the Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs). WEMWBS: Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. ***p < 0.001.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Cites

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Metadata

Authors
Peill, J. M., Trinci, K. E., Kettner, H., Mertens, L. J., Roseman, L., Timmermann, C., Rosas, F. E., Lyons, T., & Carhart-Harris, R. L.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Trinci, Katie E
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2022-01
Volume
36
Issue
1
Pages
31-45
ISSN
  • 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7285
DOI
10.1177/02698811211066709
PMC
PMC8801624
OpenAlex
W4206700491
Cited by
141
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 13
FWCI
26.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
psychological insight, psychedelic experience, scale validation, long-term well-being, subjective outcome measures
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Awareness, Female, Hallucinogens, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Principal Component Analysis, Young Adult

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