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Risk assessment of ayahuasca use in a religious context: self-reported risk factors and adverse effects

Ícaro Durante, Rafael G. Dos Santos, José Carlos Bouso, Jaime E. C. Hallak

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry October 30, 2020 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0913 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational study Peer reviewed
Population Participants in ayahuasca rituals
Intervention Ayahuasca
Topics Anxiety Ayahuasca
Keywords Adverse effect Context archaeology Nausea Depression economics Hallucinogen Pharmacology
Citations 49
Key findings Psychiatric medication use during ayahuasca rituals was not associated with increased adverse effects, and institutional practices appear sufficient to prevent exacerbated reactions.

Abstract

A minority of participants reported being very negatively affected by persistent adverse effects. Psychiatric medication use while participating in ayahuasca rituals was not associated with increased adverse effects. For the most part, the institution's practices seem sufficient to prevent exacerbated reactions. Future studies may focus on negatively affected users.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on ayahuasca for anxiety, 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
Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers Ayahuasca drinkers (both naïve and experienced) 2020 Observational study
A placebo-controlled study of the effects of ayahuasca, set and setting on mental health of participants in ayahuasca group retreats Experienced participants of ayahuasca retreats in the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany 2021 Naturalistic observational study n = 30
Persisting Effects of Ayahuasca on Empathy, Creative Thinking, Decentering, Personality, and Well-Being Volunteers attending ayahuasca ceremonies 2021 Naturalistic observational study n = 43
Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian Retreats—Mental Health and Epigenetic Outcomes From a Six-Month Naturalistic Study Self-selected participants in ayahuasca ceremonies at a retreat centre in the Peruvian... 2021 Prospective naturalistic study n = 63

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