Scientific Reports
March 5, 2020
José Carlos Bouso, Daniel Jiménez‐garrido, María de Lourdes Gómez-sousa et al.
111 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic decoction used in traditional Amazonian medicine, may have therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders. In a study of 40 first-time users, nearly half (45%) initially met criteria for a psychiatric disorder; after ayahuasca use, more than 80% of those showed clinical improvements that persisted at 6 months. Questionnaires indicated significant reductions in depression and psychopathology. Long-term users (n=23) had lower depression scores and higher self-transcendence and quality of life compared to first-time users. The authors suggest further controlled and observational studies are warranted to assess risks and benefits.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
María Gómez-sousa, Daniel Jiménez‐garrido, Genís Ona et al.
24 citations
Among 40 first-time ayahuasca ceremony participants, 7 reported intense challenging psychological effects. Four of those 7 had a pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis; one month after the ceremony, two no longer met diagnostic criteria and the other two showed considerably reduced symptoms, with effects persisting at six months. Poor setting and guidance contributed to some reactions. Six of the seven did not use ayahuasca again during the study. The findings suggest that acute negative psychological reactions during ayahuasca ceremonies can sometimes be followed by positive long-term effects, highlighting the need for prospective research on safety and contextual factors.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
August 20, 2021
Alberto Sainz-Cort, Daniel Jiménez‐garrido, Elena Muñoz Marrón et al.
17 citations
THC produces psychotomimetic effects, but when CBD is coadministered with THC, those effects are reduced. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 18 cannabis social club members, participants given THC plus CBD reported lower psychotomimetic scores than those given THC alone. CBD alone and placebo showed no psychotomimetic effects. The findings support CBD's antipsychotomimetic properties in real-world settings and link the endocannabinoid system to psychotic-like symptoms, with implications for medical cannabis practice and schizophrenia.
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo)
April 1, 2020
José Carlos Bouso, I. Fornís, Mireia Ventura et al.
15 citations
The purity of iboga products sold online and by treatment providers is highly variable. Analysis of 16 samples—including root bark, total alkaloids, purified total alkaloids, and ibogaine hydrochloride—found ibogaine content ranging from 0.6% to 11.2% in root bark, 8.2% to 32.9% in total alkaloid products, 73.7% in one purified sample, and 61.5% to 73.4% in ibogaine hydrochloride samples. One sample contained no iboga alkaloids. Almost all samples also contained other alkaloids and unknown substances. The variability poses risks for correct dosing and potential adverse reactions or interactions.
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
July 26, 2022
Alberto Sainz-Cort, Daniel Jiménez‐garrido, Elena Muñoz Marrón et al.
9 citations
Chronic cannabis users who consumed an extract containing only THC showed lower cognitive empathy than those who consumed only CBD. Participants who consumed only CBD showed higher cognitive theory of mind (the ability to infer others' mental states) compared with placebo. No differences were found on emotional measures of empathy or theory of mind. The study provides evidence that CBD can improve theory-of-mind abilities in chronic cannabis users, suggesting a role for the endocannabinoid system in social cognition and potential relevance for neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.
International Clinical Psychopharmacology
June 27, 2024
Alberto Sainz-Cort, Marta Martín-Islas, Daniel Jiménez‐garrido et al.
1 citation
Cannabis users show deficient emotional recognition and a dampened reaction to negative stimuli, according to a study validating the Spanish version of the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET). A group of 116 participants from a Cannabis Social Club completed the MET and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) while under the effects of cannabis and were compared to 86 university students as a control group. The MET cognitive empathy scale showed low internal consistency, while the emotional empathy scale showed high internal consistency. Overall emotional empathy scores were similar between groups, but the cannabis group scored lower with negative stimuli. These results confirm deficient emotional recognition in cannabis users and a dampened reaction to negative stimuli for the first time.