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.
Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
Lucas Silva Rodrigues, José Augusto Silva Reis, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
8 citations
A single dose of ayahuasca, a plant hallucinogen containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine, was given with psychological support to 11 college students who drank alcohol harmfully. The treatment was well tolerated and produced strong psychoactive effects. Days of alcohol consumption per week dropped from about 2.9 to 2.1 between weeks 2 and 3, but this reduction was not statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. No other measures—craving, anxiety, impulsivity, self-esteem, or social cognition—showed significant changes, except faster reaction time on an empathy task. The small sample and mild baseline drinking likely limited the findings. The study demonstrates the protocol is feasible for future larger trials.
Psychoactives
March 20, 2023
Guilherme Henrique de Morais Santos, Lucas Silva Rodrigues, Juliana Mendes Rocha et al.
6 citations
Ayahuasca, a serotoninergic hallucinogen used in Amazonian traditional medicine, alters brain connectivity in ways similar to other psychedelics. A review of 11 neuroimaging studies found that acute consumption expands local neural networks while reducing overall brain connectivity, with notable effects on the Default Mode Network suggesting short-term neuromodulation. In chronic users, anatomical changes in the cingulate cortex have been reported. The findings are preliminary and more research is needed.
Psychoactives
November 17, 2023
Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Lucas Silva Rodrigues, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
4 citations
In a single-blind study, university students aged 18 to 24 with harmful alcohol use received one dose of ayahuasca (1 mL/kg). Twenty-one days later, semi-structured interviews with six participants identified psychological elements linked to reduced drinking. Content analysis revealed categories including Positive Impacts, Substance Use Pattern, and Insights. Together, these categories suggest that insights and positive emotions from the experience may foster internal transformation, potentially leading to decreased alcohol consumption.