Potential Use of Ayahuasca in Grief Therapy
Débora González, Maria Carmo Carvalho, Jordi Cantillo, Marc Aixalà, Magı́ Farré
OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying May 30, 2017 DOI: 10.1177/0030222817710879 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | People who had taken ayahuasca and people who had attended peer-support groups |
| Interventions | Ayahuasca peer-support groups |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Complicated grief Psychotherapist Feeling Experiential learning Psychological intervention Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 43 |
| Key findings | The ayahuasca group presented a lower level of grief in the Present Feelings Scale of Texas Revised Inventory of Grief compared to the peer-support group. |
Abstract
The death of a loved one is ultimately a universal experience. However, conventional interventions employed for people suffering with uncomplicated grief have gathered little empirical support. The present study aimed to explore the potential effects of ayahuasca on grief. We compared 30 people who had taken ayahuasca with 30 people who had attended peer-support groups, measuring level of grief and experiential avoidance. We also examined themes in participant responses to an open-ended question regarding their experiences with ayahuasca. The ayahuasca group presented a lower level of grief in the Present Feelings Scale of Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, showing benefits in some psychological and interpersonal dimensions. Qualitative responses described experiences of emotional release, biographical memories, and experiences of contact with the deceased. Additionally, some benefits were identified regarding the ayahuasca experiences. These results provide preliminary data about the potential of ayahuasca as a therapeutic tool in treatments for grief.