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
Regular ritual use of ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian tea containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine, does not appear to cause the psychosocial problems typical of other drugs of abuse. In two studies comparing ayahuasca users (56 jungle-based and 71 urban-based) with matched controls, users scored significantly lower on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Alcohol Use and Psychiatric Status subscales. Jungle-based users had a higher frequency of past illicit drug use, but this had ceased at examination except for cannabis. At one-year follow-up, abstinence from illicit drugs was maintained except for cannabis in the jungle group. ASI differences remained significant for the jungle group but not the urban group. A time-dependent worsening was observed only in the Family/Social relationships subscale in the urban group.
Psychopharmacology
June 20, 2013
José Carlos Bouso, Josep María Fábregas, Rosa María Antonijoan et al.
96 citations
Acute ayahuasca intake impaired working memory, as measured by increased errors on the Sternberg task, but reduced stimulus-response interference, shown by faster reaction times on the Stroop task with maintained accuracy. Performance on the Tower of London task, which assesses executive function, worsened only in occasional users, not in long-term experienced users. Greater lifetime ayahuasca use was associated with less impairment on the Tower of London. The findings suggest that prior exposure to ayahuasca may protect against acute cognitive disruption, possibly due to compensatory or neuromodulatory effects.
November 22, 2013
Xavier Fernández, Josep María Fábregas
38 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, shows promise in treating addiction and mental health issues, with 74% of participants reporting significant improvements after just one session. A diverse sample of 200 individuals engaged in transpersonal psychology and intervention counseling revealed that 65% experienced enhanced social connections and identity shifts. This highlights the intersection of geography, ecology, and shamanism in understanding psychedelics' effects. Biochemical analysis and sensing techniques further support these findings, suggesting that integrating ayahuasca into psychiatry could transform treatment approaches for addiction and mental health.
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.