Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT
A three-item Peak Experience Scale (PES) was developed to rapidly evaluate the strength of the psychoactive experience, and to guide the dosing regimen, of the psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT; mebufotenin). This paper aims to compare the PES with a range of established questi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1543640/full |
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| author | Johannes T. Reckweg Natasha L. Mason Eef L. Theunissen Claus B. Svendsen Theis H. Terwey Johannes G. Ramaekers |
| author_facet | Johannes T. Reckweg Natasha L. Mason Eef L. Theunissen Claus B. Svendsen Theis H. Terwey Johannes G. Ramaekers |
| author_sort | Johannes T. Reckweg |
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| description | A three-item Peak Experience Scale (PES) was developed to rapidly evaluate the strength of the psychoactive experience, and to guide the dosing regimen, of the psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT; mebufotenin). This paper aims to compare the PES with a range of established questionnaires designed to evaluate the psychedelic experience. Data were gathered from three separate studies in which a 5-MeO-DMT formulation (GH001) was administered via pulmonary inhalation to healthy volunteers and patients with treatment resistant depression (N = 84) as either single doses (0 [placebo], 2, 6, 12, 18 mg) or an incremental individualized dosing regimen (IDR). Apart from the PES, participants also completed the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30), the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI) and the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC). The 5-MeO-DMT formulation produced a significant, dose-related increase in PES ratings, with maximal ratings being achieved after the IDR. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the PES items identified a single primary component explaining 83.5% of the variance. PES items also displayed a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.896). A PCA across all questionnaires indicated a strong and unidimensional loading of the PES, MEQ, EDI and the 5D-ASC, suggesting high interrelatedness. Likewise, individual ratings on the PES were highly correlated to those on the PES, MEQ, EDI and the 5D-ASC, but not the CEQ. The PES is concluded to be an effective tool to rapidly assess the strength of the psychedelic experience with 5-MeO-DMT. The PES could prove useful to gain fast insight into the strength of a psychedelic dose in individual patients and potentially guide dose and re-dose selection of rapid-acting psychedelics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-19ce5447fd524b2ab9a67d4c7a6dcda9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-19ce5447fd524b2ab9a67d4c7a6dcda92025-08-20T02:06:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15436401543640Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMTJohannes T. Reckweg0Natasha L. Mason1Eef L. Theunissen2Claus B. Svendsen3Theis H. Terwey4Johannes G. Ramaekers5Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsFaculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsFaculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsGH Research, Dublin, IrelandGH Research, Dublin, IrelandFaculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsA three-item Peak Experience Scale (PES) was developed to rapidly evaluate the strength of the psychoactive experience, and to guide the dosing regimen, of the psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT; mebufotenin). This paper aims to compare the PES with a range of established questionnaires designed to evaluate the psychedelic experience. Data were gathered from three separate studies in which a 5-MeO-DMT formulation (GH001) was administered via pulmonary inhalation to healthy volunteers and patients with treatment resistant depression (N = 84) as either single doses (0 [placebo], 2, 6, 12, 18 mg) or an incremental individualized dosing regimen (IDR). Apart from the PES, participants also completed the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30), the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI) and the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC). The 5-MeO-DMT formulation produced a significant, dose-related increase in PES ratings, with maximal ratings being achieved after the IDR. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the PES items identified a single primary component explaining 83.5% of the variance. PES items also displayed a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.896). A PCA across all questionnaires indicated a strong and unidimensional loading of the PES, MEQ, EDI and the 5D-ASC, suggesting high interrelatedness. Likewise, individual ratings on the PES were highly correlated to those on the PES, MEQ, EDI and the 5D-ASC, but not the CEQ. The PES is concluded to be an effective tool to rapidly assess the strength of the psychedelic experience with 5-MeO-DMT. The PES could prove useful to gain fast insight into the strength of a psychedelic dose in individual patients and potentially guide dose and re-dose selection of rapid-acting psychedelics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1543640/fullpsychedelicpsychoactivemebufotenin5-MeO-DMTquestionnairepeak experience |
| spellingShingle | Johannes T. Reckweg Natasha L. Mason Eef L. Theunissen Claus B. Svendsen Theis H. Terwey Johannes G. Ramaekers Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT Frontiers in Psychology psychedelic psychoactive mebufotenin 5-MeO-DMT questionnaire peak experience |
| title | Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT |
| title_full | Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT |
| title_short | Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT |
| title_sort | evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5 meo dmt |
| topic | psychedelic psychoactive mebufotenin 5-MeO-DMT questionnaire peak experience |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1543640/full |
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