A prospective ecological momentary assessment study of an ayahuasca retreat: exploring the salutary impact of acute psychedelic experiences on subacute affect and mindfulness skills in daily life
Psychopharmacology January 18, 2025 Sharon R Sznitman, Yoel A Behar, Sheila Daniela Dicker-Oren et al. 3 citations
In a non-clinical sample of 36 adults attending a 4-day ayahuasca retreat, positive affect and mindfulness skills improved while negative affect decreased in the days following the retreat compared to before. Acute experiences such as feelings of transcendence, emotional breakthrough, and challenging experiences predicted greater positive affect afterward, but none of these acute experiences were linked to improvements in negative affect or mindfulness. No participants showed clinically significant adverse responses, and only 5.5% showed some degree of potentially clinically significant deterioration in affect. The findings suggest ayahuasca may improve mood and mindfulness, with certain acute experiences contributing specifically to increased positive affect.