AYAHUASCA NO TRATAMENTO DE DEPRESSÃO RESISTENTE
Visão Acadêmica December 29, 2023 Nicolly Medeiros Antunes, Ana Gabriela Lodi Palma, Luciane Dalarmi
Depression is highly prevalent in Brazil and often requires long-term management. Many patients do not improve with standard antidepressant medications, leading to treatment-resistant depression. Research has explored psychoactive substances such as Ayahuasca, traditionally used in the Amazon region, as a promising option for treatment-resistant depression. This integrative review compiled 37 relevant articles, with 11 selected after screening. Results indicated significant improvements in depressive symptoms after Ayahuasca administration, with benefits persisting for several weeks. Ayahuasca may also positively influence brain biomarkers, neurotransmission, and neuronal proliferation, suggesting a link between its psychoactive effects and symptom improvement. However, more studies are needed to confirm these results and understand mechanisms and potential health risks.