Examining the therapeutic effect of ceremonial ayahuasca on narcissistic personality and antagonistic externalizing in adults
Open accessAbstract
Changes in narcissistic traits (e.g., entitlement) following the ceremonial use of ayahuasca were examined across three timepoints (baseline, postretreat, 3-month follow-up) in a sample of 314 adults using self- and informant-report (N = 110) measures. Following ceremonial use of ayahuasca, self-reported changes in narcissism were observed (i.e., decreases in Narcissistic Personality Inventory [NPI] Entitlement-Exploitativeness, increases in NPI Leadership Authority, decreases in a proxy measure of narcissistic personality disorder [NPD]). However, effect size changes were small, results were somewhat mixed across convergent measures, and no significant changes were observed by informants. The present study provides modest and qualified support for adaptive change in narcissistic antagonism up to 3 months following ceremony experiences, suggesting some potential for treatment efficacy. However, meaningful changes in narcissism were not observed. More research would be needed to adequately evaluate the relevance of psychedelic-assisted therapy for narcissistic traits, particularly studies examining individuals with higher antagonism and involving antagonism-focused therapeutic approaches.
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One study found modest reductions in entitlement and increases in leadership authority up to three months post-retreat following ayahuasca ceremonies, though effect sizes were small and results mixed across measures.
“One study prospectively examined changes in grandiose narcissistic personality traits and antagonistic externalizing behaviors in adults following ayahuasca ceremonies, finding modest reductions in entitlement and increases in leadership authority up to three months post-retreat, though effect sizes were small and results mixed across measures (39).”
From Psychoanalytically informed MDMA-assisted therapy for pathological narcissism: a novel theoretical approach (2025) · cites this paper as [39]
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References 78 · Cited by 15
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Harrison J (2010). Ego death & psychedelics. MAPS Bulletin, 20(1), 40– 41. https://maps.org/news-letters/v20n1/v20n1-40to41.pdf
- Richards WA (1975). Counseling, peak experiences and the human encounter with death: An empirical study of the efficacy of DPT-assisted counseling in enhancing the quality of life of persons with terminal cancer and their closest family members [ Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Catholic University of America.
- Authors
- Weiss, B., Sleep, C., Miller, J. D., & Campbell, W. K.
- Affiliations
- Imperial College London (GB)
- University of Georgia (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality Disorders
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2023-04
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 131-155
- ISSN
- 0885-579X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10508917
- OpenAlex
- W4362452269
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 78
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 4.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- public-domain
- Locations
- Journal of Personality Disorders (publishedVersion, public-domain)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion, public-domain)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (F32DA055459)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- ayahuasca, narcissistic personality, narcissistic personality disorder, entitlement, leadership authority, externalizing problems, psychedelic therapy, treatment efficacy, self-report versus informant report
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Humans, Narcissism, Personality, Personality Disorders, Personality Inventory, Banisteriopsis, Self Report
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