Psychedelic Experience and Metaphysical Belief Change: Preliminary Findings from Ayahuasca Ceremonies in Peru
Raluca BilacoRusu
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) September 1, 2026 DOI: 10.21275/sr26924100237 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review with preliminary findings from an ongoing doctoral study (descriptive pre-post survey) Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 28 |
| Population | Participants in Ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru, across two cohorts |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Measures | Core Metaphysical Beliefs Questionnaire (CMBQ), Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Key findings | The authors report that after Ayahuasca ceremonies, materialism and scientism scores declined for most participants while idealism, panpsychism, and monism increased, with dualism showing a mixed pattern and high MEQ30 scores, especially Positive Mood. They state these preliminary descriptive findings are consistent with prior research linking psychedelic experience to metaphysical belief changes but cannot establish causality, durability, or a relationship with well-being. |
Abstract
Empirical and philosophical interest in psychedelic substances has expanded substantially in recent years, extending beyond clinical applications to questions concerning altered states of consciousness and their possible effects on beliefs about reality. This paper reviews recent empirical research on psychedelic-associated changes in metaphysical belief, focusing on the prospective survey study of Timmermann et al. and the Core Metaphysical Beliefs (CMB) research of Jylkk?, Krabbe, and Jern. It then reports preliminary findings from an ongoing doctoral study conducted in Peru, in which the Core Metaphysical Beliefs Questionnaire (CMBQ) and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) were administered before and immediately after Ayahuasca ceremonies. Twenty-eight participants took part across two cohorts, and 26 provided matched pre- and post-ceremony CMBQ data. Descriptively, materialism and scientism scores declined for most participants, whereas idealism, panpsychism, and monism scores increased; dualism showed a more heterogeneous pattern. Mean MEQ30 scores were high across the sample, particularly on the Positive Mood dimension. These findings are consistent with previous research associating psychedelic experience with changes in metaphysical beliefs, but the present small, descriptive dataset does not establish causality, durability, or a relationship between belief change and psychological well-being. The study therefore provides preliminary evidence that merits further longitudinal and methodologically controlled investigation.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on ayahuasca, most cited first.