Ayahuasca nas causas e sintomas da depressão: uma revisão narrativa
Revista Neurociências May 28, 2024 Mariah Caroline Charafeddine Dias, Rafael Mariano de Bitenocurt
Depression affects over 300 million people globally and is a major public health concern. Conventional treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy has variable and palliative effectiveness, prompting a search for better alternatives. Ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew used for millennia by Amazonian indigenous peoples, contains DMT and other compounds. This narrative review of the literature reports that ayahuasca use is associated with improved cognitive function, lower psychopathology levels, and well-being among regular users, and shows promising results for depressive symptoms after a single dose. The authors suggest ayahuasca may not only alleviate symptoms but also address underlying causes through mindfulness-like psychological mechanisms, though more studies are needed.