Effects of ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in Santo Daime members

Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic brew made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, is increasingly used in urban centers, yet its emotional effects are not well understood. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in a Santo Daime church, long-term members who had ingested ayahuasca for at least 10 consecutive years completed questionnaires one hour after consumption. Under the acute effects, participants scored lower on measures of panic and hopelessness, while state- and trait-anxiety remained unchanged. The findings suggest ayahuasca may help alleviate hopelessness and panic-like symptoms.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The use of the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca, obtained from infusing the shredded stalk of the malpighiaceous plant Banisteriopsis caapi with the leaves of other plants such as Psychotria viridis, is growing in urban centers of Europe, South and North America in the last several decades. Despite this diffusion, little is known about its effects on emotional states. The present study investigated the effects of ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in members of the Santo Daime, an ayahuasca-using religion. Standard questionnaires were used to evaluate state-anxiety (STAI-state), trait-anxiety (STAI-trait), panic-like (ASI-R) and hopelessness (BHS) in participants that ingested ayahuasca for at least 10 consecutive years. The study was done in the Santo Daime church, where the questionnaires were administered 1h after the ingestion of the brew, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure. While under the acute effects of ayahuasca, participants scored lower on the scales for panic and hopelessness related states. Ayahuasca ingestion did not modify state- or trait-anxiety. The results are discussed in terms of the possible use of ayahuasca in alleviating signs of hopelessness and panic-like related symptoms.