This paper investigates the relationship between psychedelic drugs and changes in self-related processing, such as during an ego dissolution experience. Participants filled out an online survey...Show moreThis paper investigates the relationship between psychedelic drugs and changes in self-related processing, such as during an ego dissolution experience. Participants filled out an online survey containing several self-report measures. The results found that mystical experiences predicted higher self-esteem and that this effect is mediated by trait mindfulness. Secondly, a positive association between ego inflation and exploitative-entitled narcissism was found. We did not find EE narcissism to predict lower ego dissolution scores and no effect of mediation practice on spiritual narcissism. Lastly, whether participants are psychedelic users or not was not associated with higher levels of spiritual narcissism if controlled for age, meditation practice and EE narcissism. Our results were mostly in line with other research that has been conducted. However, these findings suggest a more complex relationship between the investigated variables than expected. The mechanisms behind self-related processing and associated changes impacted by psychedelic use are still largely unexplored and other explanations and factors should be taken into consideration and tested in the future.Show less
The current research on the challenging aspect of psychedelics, or the so-called ‘bad trips’ remains limited. Therefore, this paper is going to examine different predictors of the challenging...Show moreThe current research on the challenging aspect of psychedelics, or the so-called ‘bad trips’ remains limited. Therefore, this paper is going to examine different predictors of the challenging psychedelic experience. It was hypothesized that independent variables such as 1. Intention to escape difficult emotions, 2. Vulnerable narcissism, with possible mediation of experiential avoidance, 3. Cognitive emotion regulation tactics, with possible mediation of self-esteem, will have an effect on the dependent variable Challenging Experience. After conducting a retrospective online survey of 110 healthy adults, it was found that the intention to escape difficult emotions has an effect on challenging experiences. While vulnerable narcissism has an influence on the challenging experience, it is not mediated by experiential avoidance. The results also showed that cognitive emotion regulation tactics (except for the factor “Putting into perspective”) do not have a relationship with challenging experiences and are not mediated by self-esteem. Exploratory hypotheses were formed about a correlation between independent variables set, setting, and intentions, and the intensity of a challenging experience. Moreover, it was hypothesized that challenging experiences can be helpful to form insights about life, that can later be implemented and improve further wellbeing, and that these insights will have correlations with set, setting, and intentions. It was found that insight gained is mostly correlated with intentions. This study sheds light on factors that can be in and out of the control of the person before a psychedelic experience, and how these factors influence whether the experience becomes challenging.Show less
Background: Humans seem to be increasingly disconnected from nature and from themselves, which appears to be essentially linked to mental illnesses and lower levels of well-being. However, current...Show moreBackground: Humans seem to be increasingly disconnected from nature and from themselves, which appears to be essentially linked to mental illnesses and lower levels of well-being. However, current literature reveals promising results for psychedelic interventions. Previous research findings suggest that nature relatedness and feelings of connectedness increase via psychedelic experiences, and that natural trip settings might amplify these relationships even more. Methods: Using linear regression analysis, moderation and mediation analysis we investigated the association between trip setting and nature relatedness and connectedness among psychedelic drug users (N=190) in a cross-sectional online survey. For exploratory purposes we investigated the effect of predominant living environments. Results: More naturalistic settings were positively associated with increases in nature relatedness and connectedness. Naturalistic living environments did not predict nature relatedness. Connectedness mediated the relationship between trip setting and nature relatedness. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence for a correlational effect of naturalistic environment during psychedelic use on increases in nature relatedness and connectedness, which appears of great relevance for the field of mental health and treatments using psychedelics.Show less
