This review describes the neurochemical and pharmacological foundations of ayahuasca, a psychoactive preparation used by various indigenous and non-indigenous groups for therapeutic, magical, and religious purposes. It synthesizes existing knowledge on how the beverage's active compounds interact with brain chemistry to produce its effects.
An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy protocol adapted for individual clinical sessions reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress while increasing everyday mindfulness in 11 patients with mild to moderate depression. All participants showed significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and stress levels, consistent with existing literature. The findings suggest the therapy's benefits can extend from group to individual clinical settings, though more empirical, controlled, and randomized studies are needed to confirm external validity.
A review of 14 articles on psychedelic agents for alcohol and tobacco dependence finds that their use as a sole treatment is not conclusive, but they may offer an effective innovation for current treatment models by incorporating the patient's psychedelic experience and its relationship to therapy.