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.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
November 27, 2023
Jakub Greń, Ingmar Gorman, Anastasia Ruban et al.
27 citations
Psychedelic integration (PI) refers to practices that aim to minimize harms or maximize benefits after psychedelic use. Although PI is considered essential in psychedelic-assisted therapy, existing models lack empirical support and are not evidence-based. With psychedelic use increasing, the article calls for scientific efforts to develop, examine, and evaluate PI methods. It summarizes current literature, suggests research avenues, and discusses limitations and challenges of PI-focused research.
Nature medicine
June 3, 2025
Chloé Pronovost-Morgan, Kyle T. Greenway, Leor Roseman et al.
26 citations
A Delphi consensus study with 89 experts from 17 countries identified 30 extra-pharmacological variables that are important or very important for reporting the setting in psychedelic clinical trials. These variables, forming the ReSPCT guidelines, cover physical environment, dosing session procedure, therapeutic framework and protocol, and subjective experiences. The findings reveal significant ambiguities in current conceptualizations of set and setting. The guidelines provide a new standard for designing and documenting contextual factors in psychedelic research.
Psychiatr Res Clin Pract
February 11, 2025
Jules Evans, Marc Aixalà, Brian T. Anderson et al.
18 citations
Thirty psychedelic researchers identified critical gaps in knowledge about harms from psychedelic use, including how to define those harms, predict them, and treat them effectively. They recommend better online information, peer support groups, affordable therapy, and psychiatric consultation for people experiencing post-psychedelic difficulties. The researchers also call for improved funding for a psychedelic safety net, suggesting that psychedelic philanthropists, investors, and companies commit 1% of their investment to support safety measures such as research and support services. The article outlines practical steps to make the field of psychedelic medicine safer.
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy
May 7, 2019
Marc Aixalà, Genís Ona, Òscar Parés et al.
16 citations
A survey of 564 natural psychoactive drug (NPD) users from 52 countries found that the typical user is a well-educated adult who uses these substances sporadically. Psilocybe mushrooms (88.5%) and ayahuasca (51%) were the most used. Users reported positive life influences and good mental health. The authors argue that NPDs differ from synthetic new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in safety and use patterns, and should not be legally classified together with NPSs.
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.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 1, 2017
Clare Wilkins, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Jordi Solà et al.
15 citations
A woman on methadone maintenance treatment for 17 years self-treated with several low and cumulative doses of ibogaine over 6 weeks. Each dose attenuated withdrawal symptoms for hours and reduced tolerance to methadone until all withdrawal signs disappeared. No serious adverse effects occurred, and QTc measures never reached clinically significant scores. Twelve months after treatment, she was no longer on methadone maintenance. This first case report suggests that low and cumulative ibogaine doses may reduce withdrawal symptoms in patients on methadone maintenance treatment, though clinical trials are lacking.
ACS Chemical Neuroscience
June 4, 2018
Marc Aixalà, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Jaime E. C. Hallak et al.
14 citations
Clinical trials increasingly report that psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and ayahuasca may help treat mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The mechanisms remain unclear but appear to involve altered brain dynamics in regions dense with serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors and changes in personality. This text offers a brief, critical overview of current research, highlighting both the promise and limitations of these studies.
Curr Top Behav Neurosci
November 24, 2024
Marc Aixalà
8 citations
Psychedelic integration—the process of making sense of and applying insights from psychedelic experiences—is complex and often hindered by unsupportive settings, personal struggles, and a lack of safe, tailored interventions. This work argues that effective integration requires addressing users' unique challenges, such as difficult emotions or life circumstances, and implementing structured support systems. The authors suggest that without careful attention to these factors, the potential for positive change and mental well-being is diminished. They advocate for interventions that are personalized and safety-focused to help individuals translate profound experiences into lasting improvements in their lives.