Preliminary validation and refinement of the psychedelic aesthetic experience questionnaire

Aesthetic experiences under psychedelics are vivid and meaningful but poorly measured. A new questionnaire, the Psychedelic Aesthetic Experience Questionnaire (PAEQ), was refined and validated in 365 past-year psilocybin users who completed an online survey. Factor analysis revealed four dimensions: sensory, affective, semantic, and flow. The scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.90) and strong correlations with existing measures of mystical experience, emotional breakthrough, and psychological insight. PAEQ scores modestly predicted improvements in sleep, pain, substance use, anxiety, depression, and quality of life after psychedelic use. The PAEQ offers a psychometrically sound tool for capturing aesthetic engagement during psychedelic experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Introduction Aesthetic experiences under psychedelics are often described as vivid, emotionally powerful, and meaningful, yet they remain under-measured in psychometric research. This study aimed to refine and validate the Psychedelic Aesthetic Experience Questionnaire (PAEQ), a novel instrument designed to assess the aesthetic dimensions of acute psychedelic experiences. Methods A total of 365 past-year psilocybin users completed an anonymous online survey assessing their most typical psychedelic experience. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted on split samples to examine the latent structure of the PAEQ. Reliability, convergent validity, and regression models predicting self-reported psychological outcomes were evaluated. Results EFA and CFA supported a four-factor structure reflecting sensory, affective, semantic, and flow dimensions. Internal consistency was high for the total scale (α = 0.90) and acceptable across subscales. Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations with MEQ ( r = 0.69), EBI ( r = 0.54), and PIS ( r = 0.56). PAEQ scores modestly predicted improvements in sleep, pain, substance use, anxiety, depression, and quality of life following psychedelic use. Discussion Despite some weaknesses, the PAEQ provides a psychometrically sound measure of aesthetic engagement during psychedelic experiences, a domain not fully captured by existing instruments. Its multidimensional structure grounded in the aesthetic triad and flow theory offers new avenues for assessing altered states of consciousness and their therapeutic relevance. Conclusion The refined PAEQ is a valid tool for quantifying aesthetic aspects of psychedelic experiences and contributes to advancing empirical approaches for characterizing altered states of consciousness.