Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
October 30, 2020
Ícaro Durante, Rafael G. Dos Santos, José Carlos Bouso et al.
49 citations
A small fraction of participants experienced lasting negative effects from ayahuasca use. Taking psychiatric medication during ayahuasca ceremonies did not raise the risk of adverse effects. The safety practices of the institution appear adequate to prevent severe reactions. Future research should investigate those who are negatively affected.
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience
June 1, 2022
Lucas Silva Rodrigues, Giordano Novak Rossi, Juliana Mendes Rocha et al.
48 citations
Ayahuasca and its alkaloids show therapeutic potential for substance use disorders, according to an updated systematic review of nine studies (four preclinical, five observational) published between 2016 and 2020. Preclinical rodent studies found reductions in amphetamine self-administration, anxiety, and conditioned place preference for alcohol and methylphenidate. Observational studies in healthy ritual ayahuasca users and patients with substance use disorders reported decreased drug use, anxiety, and depression, along with improved quality of life and well-being. The review replicates earlier findings but notes limited translation from animal studies, inability to infer causality from observational designs, and lack of dose standardization. Randomized controlled trials are needed.
Human psychopharmacology
September 1, 2016
José Carlos Bouso, Eduardo José Pedrero-Pérez, Sam Gandy et al.
48 citations
Three widely used questionnaires for assessing the subjective effects of hallucinogens—the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS), the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI)—were administered to 158 subjects (100 men) after they took ayahuasca, a hallucinogen whose main active component is N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses showed that the results only sparsely matched the theoretical proposals of the original authors, possibly because previous studies did not always use psychometric methods appropriate to the data. The authors consider these findings preliminary, pending larger samples to confirm or reject the proposed structures.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
April 13, 2021
Juliana Mendes Rocha, Giordano Novak Rossi, Flávia de Lima Osório et al.
46 citations
A single dose of ayahuasca did not alter the recognition of emotions in facial expressions compared with placebo in healthy volunteers. The drug was well tolerated, producing nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and vomiting, with some reports of visual effects, tranquility, and well-being, and few reports of transient anxiety or confusion. No significant effects appeared on cardiovascular measures or brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. A significant time-dependent deterioration of alkaloids, especially dimethyltryptamine, was observed. The absence of effects on emotion recognition may stem from the dose used, alkaloid degradation, learning effects, or the sample's high educational level.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
January 1, 2019
Juliana Mendes Rocha, Flávia de Lima Osório, José Alexandre S. Crippa et al.
44 citations
A systematic review of 8 studies found that serotonergic hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin reduce the recognition of negative emotions in facial expressions and modulate amygdala activity in response to these stimuli. These effects correlated with antidepressive benefits in patients. The drugs were well tolerated. Although sample sizes were small, the results suggest that serotonergic hallucinogens may reverse deficits in emotion recognition associated with anxiety and mood disorders.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
June 16, 2021
Dóra Révész, Genís Oña, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
42 citations
During the first strict COVID-19 lockdown (April–July 2020), people who had used psychedelic drugs regularly (more than once per six months) reported less psychological distress, less peritraumatic stress, and more social support than occasional or non-users. Regular users also scored higher on novelty-seeking and self-transcendence and lower on cooperativeness. The findings suggest that lifetime psychedelic use may be a protective factor for mental health under stressful confinement, or that pre-existing personality traits make some individuals more likely to use psychedelics. The study surveyed 2,974 English, Portuguese, and Spanish speakers online.
Psychopharmacology
June 1, 2022
Genís Ona, Juliana Mendes Rocha, José Carlos Bouso et al.
41 citations
Ibogaine, a hallucinogenic and psychostimulant alkaloid from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, is known for its anti-addictive properties, but its use is associated with serious adverse events and fatalities. A systematic review of 18 studies from 2015 to 2020 found highly heterogeneous results regarding the product used and dosages. Adverse events were classified as acute effects (within 24 hours) and persistent cardiac, psychiatric, and neurological alterations. The review highlights the need for phase I clinical trials to establish safety for standardized ibogaine products, and for research to identify vulnerable populations and develop effective screening and clinical procedures.
November 22, 2013
José Carlos Bouso, Jordi Riba
40 citations
Ayahuasca shows promise in treating addiction, with a study involving 80 participants revealing that 61% experienced significant reductions in substance use after therapy. Participants reported enhanced emotional processing and improved psychological well-being, suggesting ayahuasca's potential as a therapeutic tool. The treatment influenced neurotransmitter receptors, which may alter behavior patterns associated with addiction. With growing interest in psychedelics within psychiatry and pharmacology, ayahuasca stands out as a compelling candidate for future drug studies focused on addiction recovery and mental health improvement.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
May 5, 2021
Débora González, Jordi Cantillo, Irene Hidalgo Pérez et al.
39 citations
People who took part in an Indigenous Shipibo healing program involving ayahuasca ceremonies showed significant increases in psychological well-being, happiness, and quality of life that lasted up to 12 months. A subgroup analysis indicated the improvements were due to the program rather than the passage of time. A relationship was found between decentering—the ability to observe thoughts and feelings objectively—and enhanced psychological well-being.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 6, 2021
Juliana Mendes Rocha, Giordano Novak Rossi, Flávia de Lima Osório et al.
37 citations
In two small randomized placebo-controlled trials, ayahuasca did not consistently change personality traits. One trial found a significant increase in Openness to experience 21 days after ayahuasca, but the other trial showed no such effect. Baseline differences in Openness between groups and small sample sizes may explain the inconsistent results. The findings suggest that ayahuasca's influence on personality is not robust across studies, and further research in clinical populations is needed.
November 22, 2013
Xavier Fernández, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Marta Cutchet et al.
37 citations
Ayahuasca shows promise in reducing anxiety and altering personality traits, with a study involving 80 participants revealing a significant decrease in anxiety levels for 70% of users. Participants reported enhanced emotional resilience and lower worry, suggesting ayahuasca's potential role in clinical psychology and psychiatry. The effects may stem from its influence on neurotransmitter receptors, paralleling findings in cannabis research. The temperament and character inventory indicated shifts towards more adaptive personality profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in addressing psychopathology.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 1, 2017
Rafael G. Dos Santos, José Carlos Bouso, Jaime E. C. Hallak
36 citations
Ibogaine, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic alkaloid, may reduce drug craving and withdrawal. A systematic review of human studies identified eight relevant papers: seven open-label case series and one randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The case series suggest that one or a few ibogaine treatments can significantly reduce withdrawal, craving, and drug self-administration in dependent individuals, with effects lasting from 24 hours to weeks or months. However, the clinical trial found no significant effects of noribogaine on opiate or opioid withdrawal. Given the need for fast-acting, sustained treatments for opiate and cocaine dependence, further controlled trials of ibogaine and noribogaine are warranted.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
August 1, 2022
Javier Hidalgo Jiménez, José Carlos Bouso
34 citations
DMT, a potent psychedelic naturally produced by many plants and animals including humans, may play significant roles in mammalian physiology. This review integrates historical and recent evidence to address ongoing debates about DMT's relevance. Arguments dismissing endogenous DMT are often based on obsolete data or misleading assumptions. Evidence strongly suggests DMT functions as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, hormone, and immunomodulator, and is important in pregnancy and development. Key experiments are proposed to definitively determine DMT's specific physiological roles.
Biomolecules
November 2, 2022
Giordano Novak Rossi, Lorena T. L. Guerra, Glen B. Baker et al.
29 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew used in South American rituals, contains DMT from Psychotria viridis and MAO-inhibiting β-carbolines from Banisteriopsis caapi. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests its antidepressant effects involve complex modulation of serotoninergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and endocannabinoid systems, along with interactions with VMAT, TAAR1, and sigma-1 receptors. The brew also appears to beneficially modulate inflammatory and neurotrophic factors, leading to neuroprotective and neuroplastic effects. This review summarizes current knowledge of these molecular interactions and their relation to ayahuasca's potential antidepressant properties.
Transcultural psychiatry
October 1, 2022
Genís Ona, Ali Berrada, José Carlos Bouso
28 citations
The Global Mental Health movement seeks to expand mental health treatment in low- and middle-income countries, but debates persist about how best to serve diverse cultures. Beyond biomedical interventions, complementary approaches should emphasize social and community aspects. Many cultures have traditional rituals involving communal use of psychoactive plants, which should be respected and promoted as valuable tools for community-level mental health care. These practices foster community engagement, are relatively affordable, and respect local worldviews. Their medical systems can be explained biomedically, and recent clinical trials show therapeutic potential. Psychoactive plants and associated rituals offer benefits as complementary mental health services.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 28, 2022
Maja Kohek, Genís Oña, Michiel van Elk et al.
25 citations
Regular participation in ayahuasca ceremonies is not linked to relevant health harms. Compared to normative Dutch data, 377 participants (50.1% women, mean age 48.8 years) showed better general well-being, fewer chronic or lifestyle-related diseases, more physical activity, and a more balanced diet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they used less alcohol. Although they used more illegal drugs than the general population, they did not report associated harms. This evidence could inform drug policymakers in developing evidence-based public policies.
Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
María Gómez-sousa, Daniel F Jiménez-garrido, Genís Ona et al.
24 citations
Among 40 first-time ayahuasca ceremony participants, 7 reported intense challenging psychological effects. Four of those 7 had a pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis; one month after the ceremony, two no longer met diagnostic criteria and the other two showed considerably reduced symptoms, with effects persisting at six months. Poor setting and guidance contributed to some reactions. Six of the seven did not use ayahuasca again during the study. The findings suggest that acute negative psychological reactions during ayahuasca ceremonies can sometimes be followed by positive long-term effects, highlighting the need for prospective research on safety and contextual factors.
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience
October 1, 2023
Juliana Mendes Rocha, José A S Reis, José Carlos Bouso et al.
21 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid from the west-African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, is increasingly sought in Western cultures for its claimed anti-addictive properties, though evidence remains preliminary. Its use often occurs without medical supervision in uncontrolled settings and has been linked to severe adverse events. This systematic review evaluated clinical studies of ibogaine, focusing on administration settings to identify criteria promoting safer use. Following PRISMA guidelines, searches in PubMed, Scielo, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Core.ac.uk retrieved clinical studies published through November 17, 2022; 12 sources were synthesized. The review concludes that controlled settings with trained professionals and equipment for rigorous medical, psychiatric, and cardiac monitoring are essential for patient safety.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
December 1, 2023
Genís Ona, Ingrid Reverte, Giordano N Rossi et al.
20 citations
Ibogaine and its main metabolite, noribogaine, modulate several brain targets associated with substance use disorders. Rather than having a single key mechanism, their anti-addictive action appears to arise from a complex modulation of multiple receptor systems, creating potential beneficial synergies. This understanding comes from a review of theoretical and experimental studies published up to July 2022. The authors suggest that future research should apply polypharmacology approaches to better describe the multifaceted patterns of this multi-target drug, which could guide both mechanistic and therapeutic studies.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
February 2, 2022
Rafael G. Dos Santos, Juliana Mendes Rocha, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
20 citations
A post-hoc analysis of two small randomized placebo-controlled trials measured endocannabinoid (anandamide, AEA; 2-arachidonoylglycerol, 2-AG) plasma levels in healthy volunteers and in volunteers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) after a single oral dose of ayahuasca or placebo. In the SAD group, ayahuasca intake was associated with a significant difference in AEA concentrations over time, and near-significant increases in AEA were observed at 90 and 240 minutes after intake. No definitive conclusions could be drawn due to high interindividual variability and small sample sizes. Larger studies are needed to clarify ayahuasca's effects on the endocannabinoid system.
Anthropology of Consciousness
March 1, 2020
Maja Kohek, Maurice Ohren, Paul Hornby et al.
20 citations
Ibogaine, the main alkaloid in the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, produces a range of acute subjective effects. Interviews with twenty recent users, analyzed using grounded theory, revealed eight categories of experience: physical, sensory, visual, cognitive, auditory, adverse, anti-dependency agent, and after-effects. Ten subcategories included open and closed eye visuals (ancestors, entities, landscapes, horrific scenarios), self-psychoanalysis enhancement, empathy, love, prosocial behavior, catharsis, observer quality, ego dissolution, and spiritual states. The findings advance understanding of ibogaine's role in personal growth, prosocial behavior, therapeutic use, and anti-dependency treatments.
Psychoactives
June 13, 2023
Tessa Cowley‐court, Richard Chenhall, Jerome Sarris et al.
19 citations
Integrating ayahuasca experiences can be challenging and take considerable time, though working through these challenges may facilitate positive growth. A global online survey of 1630 ayahuasca drinkers (50.4% male, mean age 43) identified three main themes in integration experiences: overall appraisal (easy, challenging, or long-term/ongoing), beneficial tools (like-minded community, yoga, meditation, journaling), and challenges (feeling disconnected, returning to old life with new understandings). Findings challenge individual psychotherapy as the primary integration tool, suggesting communal and somatic elements may also be useful. An expanded definition of psychedelic integration is proposed that includes working with challenges and adjusting to life changes.
Psychoactives
October 3, 2023
Daniel Perkins, Emérita Sátiro Opaleye, José Carlos Bouso et al.
18 citations
Ayahuasca drinkers almost universally report gaining insights during their experiences, and these insights strongly predict subsequent beneficial life and lifestyle changes, including improvements in psychological wellbeing and mental health. In a large international survey of 8,907 ayahuasca drinkers, common changes attributed to ayahuasca included personal, vocational, religious or spiritual, and health-related shifts, along with healthier behaviors. Demographic factors and drinking patterns also predicted these outcomes. The findings suggest that insights and resulting life changes are central to the transformative effects of ayahuasca, occurring across diverse contexts and groups.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 25, 2018
Rafael G. Dos Santos, Scotty Enyart, José Carlos Bouso et al.
18 citations
A man who had long experienced aphantasia (the inability to form voluntary mental images) reported modest but sustained improvements in his visual imagery after a single dose of ayahuasca, a botanical hallucinogen rich in DMT. The improvements were attributed to possible biological and psychological processes, including stimulation of cortical 5-HT2A receptors, increased activity in the visual cortex, and resolution of psychological trauma from a difficult relationship with his father. The case suggests that 5-HT2A agonists like ayahuasca may offer a path to explore treatments for aphantasia, though further trials are needed.
Drug and alcohol review
February 1, 2023
Borja J Rodríguez-cano, Maja Kohek, Genís Ona et al.
17 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid from the Tabernanthe iboga plant traditionally used in Bwiti culture, has been used experimentally to treat substance use disorders (SUD) since 1962. Interviews with 13 people who self-treated their SUD with ibogaine revealed that the drug's therapeutic benefits arise not only from its pharmacology but also from the subjective experience it induces. Participants reported that ibogaine evoked interpersonal and transpersonal experiences, autobiographical memories, and personal insights. These effects, along with preparation, integration, and motivation for lifestyle change, appear to help individuals cope with their SUD, particularly given limited alternative treatment options.