Elaboração de escala avaliativa do setting no uso de ayahuasca

Summary

A new measurement scale was developed to assess the social and physical context of ayahuasca use, based on interviews with 19 users. The study identified six dimensions related to the setting of ayahuasca consumption, including Leadership and Comfort. The findings support the validity of this new instrument, which can help future research explore how the setting impacts experiences with ayahuasca and potentially other psychedelics.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Literature has been showing a growing interest on the research of psychedelics and their possible medical and therapeutic benefits. Due to its geographic position and other sociocultural factors, ayahuasca, a beverage of Amazonian origin, is a psychedelic that stands out in Brazil. Historically used by different indigenous peoples and, in the last century, by members of certain religious groups, Ayahuasca is gradually becoming more present also in large urban centers. The Brazilian Government, in a resolution from 2010, encourages the Brazilian scientific community to further engage on the research of the beverage, investigating its safety and its possible therapeutic effects. In order for that to happen it is paramount to study not only the isolated substance but also the relationship between the beverage and the individual who drinks it (set) and its context of use, both social and physical (setting). As we haven't found any systematic research on the effects of the setting on the use of Ayahuasca, this study aims to elaborate a measurement scale to the social and physical context of Ayahuasca use. To do so, a literature review was carried out together with interviews on 19 users from different backgrounds and different consumption experience, to define the constructs "social context and physical context of Ayahuasca use". A script was built to conduct the semi-structured interviews, and the answers was analyzed through the thematic categorical analysis. The results were used to elaborate five themes, with 15 subthemes. Based on these theme, six factors were elaborated with 33 items, and were and sent to nine judges to analyze its content and structure. 29 obtained favorable opinion, two were rejected, and one was suggested modifications. With the items that obtained a favorable opinion and with the item reviewed, an online questionnaire was prepared to obtain more data for the investigation for evidence of validity of the instrument by EGA and CFA. The EGA identified six dimensions, which partially corresponded to the theorized model (Leadership, Decoration, Infrastructure, Comfort, Instruction and Social). The CFA revealed that, with three items removed, the proposed theoretical model fit significantly better than the model proposed by the EGA, providing arguments for the first (2 / df = 1,967; CFI = 0.972; TLI = 0.969; RMSEA = 0.059; WRMR = 1.087). Our findings present evidence of validity of a new instrument, with implications for future research on the influence of the setting during the experience with ayahuasca, and can serve as a basis for expanding the investigation of the setting also in the use of psychedelics in general.

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