Personality and Drug Use (PDU)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study aims to assess whether the use of drugs relates to personality ratings. Specifically, we plan to investigate if people with different histories of substance use differentiate on personality assessments (current and past).

Detailed Description
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The study aims to assess the association between the use of various substances (including psychedelic and non-psychedelic drugs) and personality profiles. Specifically, the association between past drug usage and personality profiles will be investigated. As psychedelics were found to influence changes in personality over time, the present study aims to measure both the current personality profile (via the Big Five Inventory-44 (BFI)) and perceived retrospective changes in personality (via a self-constructed Retrospective Personality Scale (RPS)). To our knowledge, no study has explored the diversity of substance use histories in relation to individual current and retrospective personality traits and aggregate personality profiles. This project aims to survey a large number of participants from all around the world, using a mobile app-based survey. The remote character of the study will increase its accessibility and diversity, which are common shortcomings in the psychedelic line of research. Additionally, a remote, anonymous study setup with no face-to-face interactions might help overcome any potential concerns participants may have regarding the sharing of sensitive information (e.g., reports on illicit substance use). To increase scientific transparency and for educational purposes, the study team plans to share results summaries (comparisons of personalized results with the aggregated ones among participants sharing similar characteristics e.g., age, substance use history), which might be an additional motivating factor for study completion. Lastly, given that drug use in the natural environment (excluding laboratory/experimental setting) is characterized by large substance diversity and poly-drug use, we aim for a large sample size (with a minimum of 36 subjects per substance(s) category) to perform subgroup analyses. Therefore, this large-scale, low-budget, naturalistic, retrospective, observational study aims to shed light on the aforementioned gap in the literature and to lay a foundation of evidence for further (observational and experimental) research within the field.

Official Title
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Personality and Drug Use (PDU)

Conditions
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Personality

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18 years of age or older full legal and mental capacity access to a smartphone (iOS and Android) with internet Exclusion Criteria: not fluent in English not able to read

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Psychedelics-only Group<br>A group of participants who reported using in their past psychedelic substances only (both classical and non-classical psychedelics are included). Specifically, in the current study this group included reports on the following substances: Psilocybin (magic mushrooms, truffles) LSD (acid) Mescaline (peyote, san pedro) Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Ayahuasca 5-MeO-DMT 3-MMC Ibogaine Salvia Phenethylamines (2C family) | |
| Stimulants-only Group<br>A group of participants who reported using in their past drugs identified as stimulating compounds only (both recreational and prescribed usages are included). Stimulating compounds are considered, in the context of the current study, substances that increase the overall activity of the central nervous system. Specifically, in the current study this group included reports on the following substances: Cocaine Crack Amphetamines Methamphetamines Prescription stimulants (e.g., Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta) | |
| Depressants-only Group<br>A group of participants who reported using in their past drugs identified as depressing compounds only (both recreational and prescribed usages are included). Depressing compounds are considered, in the context of the current study, substances that decrease the overall activity of the central nervous system. Specifically, in the current study this group included reports on the following substances: Benzodiazepines Opiates (recreational use of heroin, opium, hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, codeine, fentanyl) Prescription opioids | |
| Cannabinoids Group<br>A group of participants who reported using in their past cannabinoids compounds only (both recreational and prescribed usages are included). Specifically, in the current study this group included reports on the following substances: THC (cannabis, marijuana) CBD Medical Cannabis (both THC and CBD) | |
| Psychedelic and Non-psychedelic Substances Group<br>A group of participants who reported using in their past drugs identified as psychedelics and stimulants and/or depressants (both recreational and prescribed usages are included). In this group participants will be included who reported using at least one non-psychedelic drug additionally to a psychedelic one. Specifically, the following options were provided: Psychedelic compounds: Psilocybin (magic mushrooms, truffles) LSD (acid) Mescaline (peyote, san pedro) Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Ayahuasca 5-MeO-DMT 3-MMC Ibogaine Salvia Phenethylamines (2C family) Non-psychedelic compounds: THC (cannabis, marijuana) Medical Cannabis (both THC and CBD) CBD MDMA (ecstasy) Ketamine Cocaine Crack Amphetamines Methamphetamines Prescription stimulants (e.g., Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta) Benzodiazepines Opiates (e.g., heroin, opium, hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, codeine, fentanyl) Prescription opioids | |
| Substance-naive Group<br>A group of participants who reported no past experience with any of the substances listed in the current study nor reported using other substances (excluding alcohol and nicotine). Participants will be assigned to this group if and only if they choose the None of the above option from the Substance Use Survey (item 1). | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Current Personality Profile | Raw scores on each of dimensions of the Big Five Inventory | Single baseline measurement | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Personality Profile | Raw scores on the positive and negative dimensions of the self-constructed (for the study needs) Retrospective Personality Scale | Single baseline measurement | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Personality, Substance Use, Psychedelics, Changes in Personality, Drugs