Effects of ayahuasca on the endocannabinoid system of healthy volunteers and in volunteers with social anxiety disorder: Results from two pilot, proof‐of‐concept, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials
Rafael G. Dos Santos, Juliana Mendes Rocha, Giordano Novak Rossi, Flávia de Lima Osório, Genís Ona, José Carlos Bouso, Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira, Maurı́cio Yonamine, Camila Marchioni, Eduardo José Crevelin, Maria Eugênia Costa Queiroz, José Alexandre S. Crippa, Jaime E. C. Hallak
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental February 2, 2022 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2834 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Post-hoc analysis of two parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled trials Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers and volunteers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Dose | average 1.58 mg/ml dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Study 1, average 0.680 mg/ml DMT in Study 2 |
| Duration | Single dose, measured at baseline, 90 and 240 minutes after intake |
| Topics | Anxiety Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Placebo Endocannabinoid system Post-hoc analysis Randomized controlled trial Pharmacology Anesthesia |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca intake was associated with a significant difference in anandamide (AEA) concentrations over time in volunteers with social anxiety disorder, with near-significant increases at 90 and 240 minutes after intake. |
Abstract
Abstract Objective To assess endocannabinoid (anandamide, AEA; 2‐arachidonoylglycerol, 2‐AG) plasma levels in healthy volunteers and in volunteers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) after a single oral dose of ayahuasca or placebo.
Methods: Post hoc analysis of endocannabinoid plasma levels (baseline, 90 and 240 min after drug intake) from two parallel‐group, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials. In Study 1, 20 healthy volunteers ingested ayahuasca (average 1.58 mg/ml dimethyltryptamine (DMT)) or placebo, and in Study 2, 17 volunteers with SAD received ayahuasca (average 0.680 mg/ml DMT) or placebo.
Results: A significant difference was observed in AEA concentrations in Study 2 after ayahuasca intake (Χ 2 (2) = 6.5, p = 0.03, Friedman test), and near significant differences (increases) were observed between baseline and 90 (Z = 0, p = 0.06, Wilcoxon test) and 240 (Z = 10, p = 0.06) minutes after ayahuasca intake.
Conclusions: Although our findings suggest that ayahuasca could modulate AEA levels in SAD patients, the high interindividual variability in both trials and the small samples preclude definitive conclusions. More research with larger samples is needed to better understand the effects of ayahuasca and other hallucinogens in the endocannabinoid system.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on ayahuasca for anxiety, most cited first.