Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

6 papers

An Introduction to the Five‐Factor Model and Its Applications

Robert R. McCrae, Oliver P. John
Journal of Personality Summary & key facts 1992 6,699 citations

This 1992 review describes the five-factor model, which groups personality into five basic traits: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience. The authors summarize research using natural-language adjectives and personality questionnaires that supports the model’s broad coverage of personality and its usefulness across different observers and cultures. They review…

Cognitive Abilities and Testing Personality Disorders and Psychopathology Personality Traits and Psychology

The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure.

Piers Steel
Psychological Bulletin Summary & key facts 2007 3,145 citations

This paper reviews research on procrastination and runs a meta-analysis of 691 correlations. It finds that some personality traits (neuroticism, rebelliousness, sensation seeking) have only weak links to procrastination. Strong and consistent predictors include task aversiveness, task delay, low self-efficacy, impulsiveness, and low conscientiousness (including poor self-control, distractibility, poor organization,…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies Work-Family Balance Challenges

A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics

Vince Polito, Richard J. Stevenson
PLoS ONE Summary & key facts 2019 234 citations

This observational study followed 98 people who microdosed psychedelics over six weeks and found that people reported better psychological functioning on days they took a microdose, but there was little evidence that those effects lasted into the next days. Among 63 people who completed formal tests before and after the…

Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Examining Psychedelic-Induced Changes in Social Functioning and Connectedness in a Naturalistic Online Sample Using the Five-Factor Model of Personality

Brandon Weiss, Victoria Amalie Nygart, Lis Marie Pommerencke, Robin Carhart‐Harris, David Erritzøe
Frontiers in Psychology Summary & key facts 2021 45 citations

Researchers followed people who used psychedelics in real life and signed up online. They asked them about their personality and how connected they felt to others before the experience, two weeks after, and four weeks after. On average, people reported feeling less emotional instability, becoming more friendly and cooperative, and…

Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Pathological Narcissism: A Study of Burden on Partners and Family

Nicholas J. S. Day, Marianne E. Bourke, Michelle L. Townsend, Brin F. S. Grenyer
PubMed Summary & key facts 2020 37 citations

This study asked 683 people who lived closely with a relative with pathological narcissism about their grief, burden, mental health, and coping. Most participants were romantic partners. The study found very high levels of burden and mental-health problems in this group, and it notes that sample selection limits how the…

Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Personality Disorders and Psychopathology Personality Traits and Psychology

Trait mindfulness and personality characteristics in a microdosing ADHD sample: a naturalistic prospective survey study

Haijen, Eline C. H. M., Hurks, Petra P. M., Kuypers, Kim P. C.
www.frontiersin.org Summary & key facts 2023 5 citations

This naturalistic survey followed adults with ADHD or severe ADHD symptoms who planned to start psychedelic microdosing. After 4 weeks, participants reported higher overall trait mindfulness — driven by better ability to describe inner experience and to be non-judging — and lower neuroticism, while other Big Five traits did not…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Summaries and links are for general information and education only. They are not a substitute for reading the original publication or for professional medical, legal, or other advice. Always refer to the linked source for the full study.