Acute Psychological Adverse Reactions in First-Time Ritual Ayahuasca Users: A Prospective Case Series.
María Gómez-sousa, Daniel Jiménez‐garrido, Genís Ona, Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Miguel Ángel Alcázar‐córcoles, José Carlos Bouso
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000001343 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective cohort study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 7 |
| Population | First-time ayahuasca ceremony participants who experienced acute challenging psychological reactions |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca ceremony |
| Duration | 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key findings | Among seven participants who had intense challenging reactions during their first ayahuasca ceremony, four with pre-existing psychiatric disorders showed reduced or resolved symptoms at one and six months post-ceremony. |
Abstract
In recent decades, ritualistic use of ayahuasca has spread throughout the world. Retrospective studies have suggested a good psychological safety profile, but prospective studies involving ceremony ayahuasca-naive participants are lacking. We conducted the study using a subsample from a previous study, for which first-time ceremony ayahuasca participants were recruited. The subsample consisted of 7 subjects who experienced acute and challenging psychological reactions. The semistructured Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and psychometric questionnaires were administered before participants attended the ayahuasca ceremony and at 1 and 6 months after exposure. Subjective experiences were also recorded. Seven subjects from a sample of 40 reported having experienced intense challenging psychological effects during the ayahuasca ceremony. Four of those 7 subjects met the diagnostic criteria for 1 or more psychiatric disorder before the ayahuasca ceremony. One month after the ceremony, 2 of those subjects no longer showed psychiatric symptoms, whereas the symptoms of the other 2 were reduced considerably. Those results persisted at the 6-month follow-up. Inappropriate setting/context (poor guiding skills and screening) contributed to some of the challenging reactions. Most of the participants (6 of 7) did not take ayahuasca again during the study period. Based on the cases reported here, we suggest that although it is possible that participating in ayahuasca ceremonies may entail acute psychological negative reactions, those challenging experiences can also have positive long-term effects. Prospective research on the safety profile of ayahuasca and how it is affected by the context of different practices and safety strategies is therefore necessary.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network Experienced subjects | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 10 |
| Human Psychopharmacology of Hoasca, A Plant Hallucinogen Used in Ritual Context in Brazil Long-term members of a syncretic church that uses hoasca as a psychoactive sacrament... | 1996 | Observational cohort with matched controls | n = 30 |
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study Regular ayahuasca users and active controls in non-ayahuasca religions | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 242 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- Extended difficulties following the use of psychedelic drugs: A mixed methods study PLoS One October 24, 2023
- Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey. PLOS global public health 2022
- Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- Underground ibogaine use for the treatment of substance use disorders: A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences. Drug and Alcohol Review February 1, 2023
- Beyond Psilocybin: Reviewing the Therapeutic Potential of Other Serotonergic Psychedelics in Mental and Substance Use Disorders Journal of Psychoactive Drugs August 24, 2023
and 13 more in the library
Cites 32
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 4, 2014
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2016
- Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies Journal of Psychopharmacology September 20, 2010
and 27 more in the library