Abstract
As psychedelics are increasingly being considered for therapy, tools that predict positive long-term outcomes will be more valuable. The literature suggests the nature of the acute psychedelic experience is an important determinant of the long-term outcomes, therefore the exploration of factors that predict acute reactions to psychedelics is necessary. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between six personality traits and the intensity of several reported subjective features of the acute psychedelic state. These features were selected from a large online index of subjective effects of psychedelics. Participants completed the 60-item IPIP-NEO personality test and 34-item Tellegen absorption scale before reporting the intensity (or absence) of 54 different subjective features. The relationship between these features and personality scores was explored using correlation analyses and hierarchical multiple regression. Results demonstrated that personality traits exhibit significant correlations with the intensity of many cognitive, emotional, and sensory features. Regression analyses demonstrated that certain features are significantly predicted by personality variables whether alone, or in combination with other variables. Findings suggest personality may have a greater impact on the features of the acute psychedelic state that previously thought. Therefore, the inclusion of personality measures in the development of future predictive tools should be seriously considered.