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Adverse outcomes following psychedelic use in adolescents and adults : associations with age and personality traits

Sjöström, David LU ; Claesdotter-Knutsson, Emma LU orcid and Kajonius, Petri LU (2026) In Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 20(1).
Abstract

Background: Adolescents are increasingly using classical psychedelics, yet little is known about how psychedelics use is related to their mental health. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescents may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes in relation to psychedelic use compared to adults. This descriptive and exploratory study examined differences between adolescents and adults in reported psychedelic experiences, with a focus on adverse outcomes and the potential role of personality traits. Methods: Data were drawn from a community sample (N = 1185), in which participants retrospectively reported on their most significant psychedelic experience and associations with adverse (e.g., confusion) and positive outcomes (e.g.,... (More)

Background: Adolescents are increasingly using classical psychedelics, yet little is known about how psychedelics use is related to their mental health. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescents may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes in relation to psychedelic use compared to adults. This descriptive and exploratory study examined differences between adolescents and adults in reported psychedelic experiences, with a focus on adverse outcomes and the potential role of personality traits. Methods: Data were drawn from a community sample (N = 1185), in which participants retrospectively reported on their most significant psychedelic experience and associations with adverse (e.g., confusion) and positive outcomes (e.g., meaningfulness). The sample was divided into adolescents aged 18–24 years and adults aged 25 years or older. Age groups were analysed both dichotomously (< 25 vs. ≥25 years) and continuously. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and linear regressions were used to test the role of age and personality traits as predictors of adverse outcomes. Results: Adolescents reported significantly more adverse outcomes compared to adults, including more negative personality change as well as more fearful experiences. Positive outcomes such as meaningfulness, mystical-type experiences, and improvements in relationships did not differ significantly between age groups. Age group remained a significant predictor of adverse outcomes after adjusting for personality traits. Neuroticism explained a substantially larger share of variance compared to age. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while adolescents may derive similar positive effects from psychedelics as adults, they may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes. The findings underscore the need for further longitudinal research to understand how developmental stages and individual differences influence psychedelic use outcomes.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescents, Adverse outcomes, Personality traits, Psychedelics
in
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
volume
20
issue
1
article number
32
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:105031944644
  • pmid:41736043
ISSN
1753-2000
DOI
10.1186/s13034-026-01048-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026.
id
01c088b3-e185-4174-a05c-5c07f9cf2ed4
date added to LUP
2026-05-13 14:39:45
date last changed
2026-05-27 15:36:46
@article{01c088b3-e185-4174-a05c-5c07f9cf2ed4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Adolescents are increasingly using classical psychedelics, yet little is known about how psychedelics use is related to their mental health. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescents may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes in relation to psychedelic use compared to adults. This descriptive and exploratory study examined differences between adolescents and adults in reported psychedelic experiences, with a focus on adverse outcomes and the potential role of personality traits. Methods: Data were drawn from a community sample (N = 1185), in which participants retrospectively reported on their most significant psychedelic experience and associations with adverse (e.g., confusion) and positive outcomes (e.g., meaningfulness). The sample was divided into adolescents aged 18–24 years and adults aged 25 years or older. Age groups were analysed both dichotomously (&lt; 25 vs. ≥25 years) and continuously. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and linear regressions were used to test the role of age and personality traits as predictors of adverse outcomes. Results: Adolescents reported significantly more adverse outcomes compared to adults, including more negative personality change as well as more fearful experiences. Positive outcomes such as meaningfulness, mystical-type experiences, and improvements in relationships did not differ significantly between age groups. Age group remained a significant predictor of adverse outcomes after adjusting for personality traits. Neuroticism explained a substantially larger share of variance compared to age. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while adolescents may derive similar positive effects from psychedelics as adults, they may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes. The findings underscore the need for further longitudinal research to understand how developmental stages and individual differences influence psychedelic use outcomes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sjöström, David and Claesdotter-Knutsson, Emma and Kajonius, Petri}},
  issn         = {{1753-2000}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescents; Adverse outcomes; Personality traits; Psychedelics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health}},
  title        = {{Adverse outcomes following psychedelic use in adolescents and adults : associations with age and personality traits}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13034-026-01048-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s13034-026-01048-x}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}