Examining the Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy versus Escitalopram on Personality and Impulsivity
Abstract
The present study examines the effects of Psilocybin-assisted Therapy (PAT) on Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality and impulsivity within a controlled laboratory design in which patients with treatment-resistant depression received either PAT or conventional SSRI treatment (Escitalopram). Previous open-label PAT treatment has been associated with adaptive changes in Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness. Previous analysis of the present data demonstrated nonsignificant change in depression between treatment groups on the primary outcome measure, but results favorable to psilocybin on secondary outcome measures of depression (Carhart-Harris et al., 2021 NEJM). In addition to FFM Neuroticism, depression is associated with lower Extraversion and Agreeableness, and higher Impulsivity (Atkinson et al., 2019; Koorevaar et al., 2013). Given that both PAT and SSRI treatment has shown evidence of increasing Extraversion and Agreeableness, and reducing Impulsivity (Butler et al., 2010; Dunlop et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2009), the present study will investigate whether PAT and SSRI treatment produce adaptive changes in these traits, and whether one of these produces superior changes.
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