Influence of Context and Setting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes of Ayahuasca Drinkers: Results of a Large International Survey.
Daniel Perkins, Violeta Schubert, Hana Šimonová, Luís Fernando Tófoli, José Carlos Bouso, Miroslav Horák, Nicole Leite Galvão-Coelho, Jerome Sarris
Front Pharmacol April 21, 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.623979 via PubMed Central
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA large international survey of ayahuasca drinkers found that the context and setting in which ayahuasca is consumed—including preparation, guidance, and integration support—are strongly associated with mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Participants who reported professional or traditional guidance, structured preparation, and post-session integration were more likely to experience improvements in mood, reductions in anxiety, and overall psychological wellbeing. The findings suggest that the benefits of ayahuasca are not solely due to the substance itself but are significantly influenced by the surrounding environmental and support factors. Negative or null outcomes were more common among those who lacked such structured support.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | International ayahuasca drinkers |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Ayahuasca context Ayahuasca setting Ayahuasca environment Ayahuasca preparation Ayahuasca integration |
| Citations | 73 |
| Key finding | Context and setting factors such as guidance, preparation, and integration support are significantly associated with positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes among ayahuasca drinkers. |
Abstract
Influence of Context and Setting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes of Ayahuasca Drinkers: Results of a Large International Survey.