The knowledge that brain functional connectomes are unique and reliable has enabled behaviourally relevant inferences at a subject level. However, whether such "fingerprints" persist under altered states of consciousness is unknown. Ayahuasca is a potent serotonergic psychedelic which produces a widespread dysregulation of functional connectivity. Used communally in religious ceremonies, its...
The objective of this paper is to conduct a systematic thematic review of adverse events, safety, and toxicity of traditional ayahuasca plant preparations and its main psychoactive alkaloids (dimethyltryptamine [DMT], harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine), including discussing clinical considerations (within clinical trials or approved settings). A systematic literature search of...
Refugees and immigrants can experience complex stressors from the process of immigration that can have lasting and severe long-term mental health consequences. Experiences after ayahuasca ingestion are shown to produce positive effects on psychological wellbeing and mental health, including anecdotal reports of improved symptoms of trauma and related disorders. However, data on the longitudinal...
The sacred ayahuasca brew, utilized by indigenous communities in the Amazon and syncretic religious groups in Brazil, primarily consists of a decoction of two plants: (i) the Amazonian liana known as Mariri or Jagube (Banisteriopsis caapi), and (ii) the shrub referred as Chacrona or Rainha (Psychotria viridis). While Chacrona leaves are rich in N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent...
For decades, psychedelics have been investigated for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, evidence suggests that psychedelics may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Several studies with classic psychedelics, including LSD and psilocybin, show promising results, with psychedelics decreasing alcohol drinking and promoting abstinence in...
Psychotherapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), a condition characterized by an intense and persistent grief response, has received increased attention over the past decades. Evidence-based approaches to prevent PGD are currently scarce, and not always effective. This paper introduces a protocol for a clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of a Meaning Reconstruction psychotherapy...
Visão AcadêmicaDecember 29, 2023Nicolly Medeiros Antunes, Ana Gabriela Lodi Palma, Luciane Dalarmi
O Brasil enfrenta uma alta prevalência de depressão, uma doença crônica não transmissível que requer gerenciamento a longo prazo. O tratamento inicial comum envolve medicamentos antidepressivos, mas muitos pacientes não obtêm melhora, resultando em uma depressão resistente ao tratamento, caracterizada pela falta de resposta a múltiplos medicamentos ou terapias. Pesquisas têm explorado...
O objetivo deste artigo é explorar um aspecto pouco discutido nos estudos sobre consumo de psicoativos: a metodologia. Desenvolvida por Leary nos anos de 1950, retomada por Zinberg nos anos 1980 e por MacRae e Simões nos anos de 1990, a ferramenta metodológica substance, set e setting, que auxiliou diversos estudos ao longo de meio século, encontra-se ameaçado por padrões teóricos que o...
Neste artigo, buscou-se analisar o processo de institucionalização do uso da ayahuasca no Brasil. Para tanto, foi realizada análise bibliográfica em conjunto com trabalho etnográfico realizado em três centros ayahuasqueiros das regiões Norte, Sudeste e Sul. Foram abordados elementos relacionados à consolidação destes grupos, como as práticas culturais e os estigmas atrelados a eles, observando...
Historically, ayahuasca has been associated in the press with “hallucination”, “drugs” and “madness”. However, the advancement of research on its “therapeutic potential” and the dissemination of results in the news raise the question, which is also a premise, whether there has been a transformation in the social meanings of the brew in a recent period. Here, the objective was to analyze the...