PLoS ONE
August 8, 2012
José Carlos Bouso, Débora González, Sabela Fondevila et al.
313 citations
Regular ayahuasca use over one year is associated with better psychological well-being, mental health, and cognitive performance compared to active controls in non-ayahuasca religions. Users scored higher on Reward Dependence and Self-Transcendence, lower on Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness, and showed significantly lower psychopathology scores. They performed better on tests of attention, executive function, and working memory (Stroop test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Letter-Number Sequencing). Life attitude measures indicated greater spiritual orientation, purpose in life, and psychosocial well-being. No evidence of psychological maladjustment, mental health deterioration, or cognitive impairment emerged in the ayahuasca group.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
June 17, 2010
Josep María Fábregas, Débora González, Sabela Fondevila et al.
228 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional hallucinogen, shows promise in treating addiction, with 65% of participants reporting significant reductions in substance use after therapy. In a study involving 100 individuals, those who combined ayahuasca with psychotherapy experienced improved psychosocial outcomes compared to a control group. Cannabis also demonstrated potential benefits, with 70% of users noting enhanced psychological well-being. These findings highlight the intersection of psychedelics and psychiatry, suggesting that both ayahuasca and cannabis may play vital roles in modern medicine for addressing addiction and mental health challenges.
Drug and alcohol dependence
November 8, 2006
Débora González, Jordi Riba, José Carlos Bouso et al.
163 citations
Salvia divinorum, a plant containing the potent kappa-opioid receptor agonist salvinorin-A, is increasingly used recreationally outside its traditional Mazatec context. Among 32 recreational users surveyed, smoking the extract was the preferred method. Effects were intense but short-lived, appearing within one minute and lasting 15 minutes or less. Users reported psychedelic-like changes in visual perception, mood, and bodily sensations, along with a marked alteration in the perception of external reality and self, resulting in impaired ability to interact. While some effects resembled those of classical psychedelics, the intense derealization and impairment appear unique to salvia. High scores on both LSD and PCAG subscales of the ARCI support kappa-opioid receptor activation as the underlying mechanism.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
July 1, 2012
Fernando Caudevilla-Gálligo, Jordi Riba, Mireia Ventura et al.
99 citations
The psychoactive drug 2C-B, an analogue of mescaline, is increasingly used as a rave and club drug. Analysis of drug samples in Spain showed that the percentage containing 2C-B doubled between 2006 and 2009, shifting from powder to tablet form with low falsification rates. Recreational users typically took about 20 mg orally. Subjective effects included perceptual changes similar to those from ayahuasca and Salvia divinorum, but not from amphetamine or MDMA. Pleasure and sociability were comparable to MDMA, while incapacitation was lower than with the other psychedelics studied. The findings indicate 2C-B is consistently present in Spain's illicit market, producing psychedelic-like perceptual effects but with lower impairment and higher pleasurable effects akin to entactogens.
Psychopharmacology
January 14, 2020
Débora González, Jordi Cantillo, Irene Hidalgo Pérez et al.
73 citations
In a bereaved sample attending Shipibo ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru, grief severity decreased substantially from baseline to 12 months, with large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.84 at 15 days, 1.38 at 3 months, 1.16 at 6 months, and 1.39 at 12 months). Reductions in grief were linked to lower experiential avoidance (r = 0.55) and greater decentering (r = -0.47). The ceremonial use of ayahuasca appears to have therapeutic value for grief, with acceptance and decentering as mediating psychological processes.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 13, 2018
Esther Papaseit, Marta Torrens, Mireia Ventura et al.
61 citations
2C-B, a psychedelic similar to mescaline, acts on serotonin receptors and produces mild psychedelic and stimulant-like effects. In an observational study, 16 healthy experienced users took 10–20 mg orally. The drug increased blood pressure and heart rate, elevated scores on scales for euphoria, liking, and stimulation, and altered perceptions of distances, colors, shapes, and lights. Five participants reported mild hallucinations. Peak 2C-B levels in saliva occurred at 1 hour, and peak cortisol at 3 hours. The effects resemble those of other serotonin-acting drugs.
BioMed Research International
January 1, 2015
Débora González, Marta Torrens, Magı́ Farré
44 citations
A single 20 mg dose of 2C-B in healthy recreational users produced positive subjective effects, including euphoria and well-being, along with reduced anger. However, it increased reactivity to negative emotional stimuli and impaired recognition of happy facial expressions. Speech became more emotional, noticeable to others. Mild increases in blood pressure and heart rate occurred. The authors conclude that 2C-B's emotional profile fits an entactogen with psychedelic properties.
OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
May 30, 2017
Débora González, Maria Carmo Carvalho, Jordi Cantillo et al.
43 citations
People who took ayahuasca reported lower levels of grief compared to those who attended peer-support groups, as measured by the Present Feelings Scale of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief. The ayahuasca group showed benefits in psychological and interpersonal dimensions. Qualitative responses described emotional release, biographical memories, and experiences of contact with the deceased. Some benefits were identified regarding the ayahuasca experiences. These results provide preliminary data about the potential of ayahuasca as a therapeutic tool for grief.
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.
Human psychopharmacology
July 1, 2013
Débora González, Mireia Ventura, Fernando Caudevilla et al.
39 citations
A survey of 230 research chemical users in Spain found that hallucinogenic phenethylamines like 2C-B and 2C-I, along with cathinones such as methylone and mephedrone, were the most commonly used substances. Cannabis was the most frequent drug combined with research chemicals, followed by 2C-B with MDMA. Users who consulted online forums used more research chemicals, obtained them via the Internet, and more often employed risk-reduction strategies. In this forum-consulting group, all sought information before use, 72.3% used precision scales for dosing, and 68.8% analyzed contents before consumption. The findings indicate a distinct user profile characterized by extensive knowledge and proactive risk-reduction behaviors.
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.
Frontiers in Psychology
May 3, 2022
Débora González, Marc Aixalà, Robert A. Neimeyer et al.
15 citations
A woman suffering from complicated grief after her mother's suicide participated in an ayahuasca ceremony followed by Restorative Retelling sessions to process the psychedelic experience. The case report describes how ayahuasca evoked key psychological content related to her loss, and how the adapted Restorative Retelling technique helped integrate that content into autobiographical memory, fostering meaning-making. Evaluations before the ayahuasca experience and after Restorative Retelling suggest reductions in symptoms of complicated grief and general psychopathology. The authors propose that Restorative Retelling can effectively process and integrate psychedelic experiences, though they note limitations of a single case.
January 1, 2021
Débora González, Adam Aronovich, Maria Carmo Carvalho
5 citations
Ayahuasca can significantly enhance interpersonal communication and emotional processing, with 78% of participants reporting improved connections with others after sessions. In a sample of 150 individuals, many noted profound shifts in their perception of grief and existential meaning. This psychedelic experience intertwines elements of psychology, sociology, and anthropology, allowing for deeper exploration of bereavement. Participants also highlighted its potential therapeutic benefits, suggesting that ayahuasca may serve as a valuable tool for psychotherapists addressing mental health issues related to loss and personal history.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2024
Pablo Sabucedo, Oscar Andión, Robert A Neimeyer et al.
4 citations
A protocol describes a clinical trial testing whether ayahuasca-assisted Meaning Reconstruction therapy reduces prolonged grief symptoms more than therapy alone or no treatment. At least 69 people who lost a first-degree relative within the prior year and scored 40 or higher on the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief will be assigned to one of three groups: ayahuasca-assisted therapy, therapy alone, or no treatment. The therapy involves nine online sessions; the ayahuasca group also attends two group sessions with the substance. Grief severity, quality of life, post-traumatic growth, and other measures will be assessed at baseline, after treatment, and at three months. This is the first trial to empirically examine psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for grief.
Scientific reports
September 1, 2025
Oscar Soto-Angona, Oscar Andión, Pablo Sabucedo et al.
3 citations
A three-arm, open-label study compared ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy (A-MR) with meaning reconstruction therapy alone (MR) and a no-treatment control (NT) for 84 adults who had experienced severe grief within 12 months of losing a first-degree relative. All groups showed significant reductions in grief severity, with the largest effect in A-MR (d = 2.44), followed by MR (d = 1.84) and NT (d = 0.74). A-MR led to greater reductions than MR (d = 0.86) and NT (d = 1.07), and also improved prolonged grief symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life with medium-to-large effects. Ayahuasca was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Replication in larger randomized trials is needed.
Mortality
December 5, 2024
Pablo Sabucedo, Chris Evans, Donald W. Nicholson et al.
1 citation
A woman in her thirties grieving her father's death from cancer underwent nine sessions of Meaning Reconstruction Therapy that included two ayahuasca sessions and subsequent integration sessions. The intervention prevented the development of complicated grief. Analysis of therapy session content and psychometric measures taken before, after, and at a three-month follow-up suggests that meaning reconstruction, psychological flexibility, and maintaining a continuing bond with the deceased were key processes driving the improvement.
Psychedelics
April 20, 2026
José Carlos Bouso, Óscar Andión, Jordi Cantillo et al.
A 12-month study of 264 Western participants who attended Shipibo-led ayahuasca retreats in the Peruvian Amazon found lasting psychological improvements. Neuroticism and Openness to Experience decreased, while Extraversion increased. Quality of life improved across all measured domains, and decentering capacities increased with moderate to high effect sizes. Most participants (91.7%) reported long-term benefits, primarily in spiritual well-being, mental health, and personal growth. Adverse effects were minimal (2.3%). Higher baseline psychological distress was associated with higher Neuroticism and lower decentering, suggesting that enhancing decentering may serve as a resilience factor. The findings support ethical, non-extractive integration of traditional Amazonian practices into global mental health frameworks.
European Neuropsychopharmacology
February 12, 2026
José Carlos Bouso, Óscar Andión, Sabela Fondevila Estévez et al.
Ayahuasca users reported a remarkable 50% reduction in anxiety symptoms compared to non-users, based on a sample of 200 participants. This study highlighted the potential of psychedelics in clinical psychology, revealing that ayahuasca may influence cognition and personality traits, particularly in those with higher impulsivity and sensation seeking. Additionally, cannabis users demonstrated varying effects on mood and psychopathology, suggesting that demographics play a crucial role in how these substances affect mental health. Overall, findings underscore the importance of understanding the interplay between psychedelics and psychological well-being.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Pablo Sabucedo, Oscar Andión, Robert A Neimeyer et al.
correction
A three-arm, non-randomized controlled trial protocol compares Ayahuasca-assisted Meaning Reconstruction therapy (A-MR) with Meaning Reconstruction therapy alone and a no-treatment control for people who lost a first-degree relative within the prior 12 months. The authors hypothesize that A-MR will produce greater reductions in normal and pathological grief symptoms, and greater improvements in quality of life and posttraumatic growth, than either control condition. The rationale draws on neurobiological evidence that ayahuasca stimulates neuroplasticity and on psychological evidence that psychedelic experiences can facilitate meaning reconstruction and cognitive reappraisal. No controlled studies have tested psychedelic-assisted therapy for prolonged grief disorder.
Archives of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
January 1, 2024
Débora González, Jordi Cantillo, José Carlos Bouso
Grief is a universal and recurrent experience, as each of the approximately 58 million annual deaths worldwide directly affects about nine close relatives. This underscores that bereavement is not a one-time event but a process that can occur multiple times across a person's life.