84 results
Search Results
2. Ayahuasca and Dimethyltryptamine Adverse Events and Toxicity Analysis: A Systematic Thematic Review.
- Author
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White, Eleanor, Kennedy, Tom, Ruffell, Simon, Perkins, Daniel, and Sarris, Jerome
- Subjects
DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE ,THEMATIC analysis ,ALKALOIDS ,WEB databases ,ISOQUINOLINE alkaloids ,ANIMAL models in research ,ABORTIFACIENTS ,CLINICAL trials ,SALVINORIN A - Abstract
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 preclinical, clinical, epidemiological, and pharmacovigilance data (as well as pertinent reviews and case studies) was conducted for articles using the electronic databases of PubMed and Web of Science (to 6 July 2023) and PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Embase (to 21 September 2022) and included articles in English in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, reference lists were searched. Due to the breadth of the area covered, we presented the relevant data in a thematic format. Our searches revealed 78 relevant articles. Data showed that ayahuasca or DMT is generally safe; however, some adverse human events have been reported. Animal models using higher doses of ayahuasca have shown abortifacient and teratogenic effects. Isolated harmala alkaloid studies have also revealed evidence of potential toxicity at higher doses, which may increase with co-administration with certain medications. Harmaline revealed the most issues in preclinical models. Nevertheless, animal models involving higher-dose synthetic isolates may not necessarily be able to be extrapolated to human use of therapeutic doses of plant-based extracts. Serious adverse effects are rarely reported within healthy populations, indicating an acceptable safety profile for the traditional use of ayahuasca and DMT in controlled settings. Further randomized, controlled trials with judicious blinding, larger samples, and longer duration are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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- View/download PDF
3. A Systematic Review of the Neurocognitive Effects of Psychedelics in Healthy Populations: Implications for Depressive Disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- Author
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Velit-Salazar, Mario Renato, Shiroma, Paulo R., and Cherian, Eloise
- Subjects
MENTAL depression ,LSD (Drug) ,POST-traumatic stress disorder ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,COGNITIVE testing ,PSILOCYBIN - Abstract
Objective: This study aims to provide an overview of pharmacological trials that examine the neurocognitive effects of psychedelics among healthy individuals and patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) was used as a guide to structure and report the findings for this review. A literature search included the MEDLINE database up until December 2022. We included randomized or open-label human studies of MDMA, psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, DMT, or cannabis reporting non-emotionally charged neurocognitive outcomes ("cold cognition") measured through validated neuropsychological tests. Results: A total of 43 full-text papers on MDMA (15), cannabis (12), LSD (6), psilocybin (9), DMT/ayahuasca (1), and mescaline (0) were included, mostly on healthy subjects. A single article on MDMA's effects on cognition in subjects with PTSD was included; there were no studies on psychedelics and neurocognition in MDD. Most of the studies on healthy subjects reported detrimental or neutral effects on cognition during the peak effect of psychedelics with a few exceptions (e.g., MDMA improved psychomotor function). Performance on the type of neurocognitive dimension (e.g., attention, memory, executive function, psychomotor) varies by type of psychedelic, dosage, and cognitive testing. Conclusions: Small samples and a lack of uniformed methods across studies preclude unequivocal conclusions on whether psychedelics enhance, decrease, or have no significant effect on cognitive performance. It is foreseen that psychedelics will soon become an available treatment for various psychiatric disorders. The acute and long-term effects on cognition caused by psychedelics should be assessed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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4. Assessment of the acute subjective psychedelic experience: A review of patient-reported outcome measures in clinical research on classical psychedelics.
- Author
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Hovmand, Oliver Rumle, Poulsen, Emil Deleuran, and Arnfred, Sidse
- Subjects
PSILOCYBIN ,LSD (Drug) ,MEDICAL research ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,SENSORY perception ,VISUAL analog scale - Abstract
Background: The classical psychedelics psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca/ N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide can temporarily produce altered states of consciousness, characterized by changes in sensory perception, thought, mood, and the sense of self-reality and meaning. It is important to have reliable instruments for quantifying these altered states in trials, due to a plausible link between the acute subjective experience and treatment outcome. Methods: We conducted a review of outcome measures applied in research on classical psychedelics to assess one or more dimensions of the acute subjective psychedelic experience. Three relevant databases were searched electronically. Two reviewers independently conducted article selection and data extraction regarding the instruments, dimensions, geography, population, and psychedelic substance investigated in the included studies. We identified the five most utilized instruments for the most recent 6 years, as well as the five most utilized instruments for each psychedelic. Results: We included 93 papers, which reported on 93 unique trials and utilized 17 different rating scales. Of these, the most utilized were the Five-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire, visual analog or Likert scales specially developed for the trials, the Hallucinogen Rating Scale, the States of Consciousness Questionnaire, and the Abnormer Psychischer Zustand. Discussion: Considerable variability was found in the instruments utilized in clinical trials on classical psychedelics. We advise and encourage the development of a core outcome set for psychedelic research to enable altered state comparisons across compounds, participants, and settings. We further advise that instruments be designed to assess the "setting" of a psychedelic experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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5. Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment.
- Author
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David, Jonathan, Bouso, José Carlos, Kohek, Maja, Ona, Genís, Tadmor, Nir, Arnon, Tal, Dor-Ziderman, Yair, and Berkovich-Ohana, Aviva
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ATTITUDES toward death ,PATHOLOGICAL psychology ,PSYCHOLOGICAL typologies ,CROSS-sectional method ,CONSCIOUSNESS - Abstract
Introduction: Despite an emerging understanding regarding the pivotal mechanistic role of subjective experiences that unfold during acute psychedelic states, very little has been done in the direction of better characterizing such experiences and determining their long-term impact. The present paper utilizes two cross-sectional studies for spotlighting -- for the first time in the literature -- the characteristics and outcomes of self-reported past experiences related to one's subjective sense of death during ayahuasca ceremonies, termed here Ayahuasca-induced Personal Death (APD) experiences. Methods: Study 1 (n = 54) reports the prevalence, demographics, intensity, and impact of APDs on attitudes toward death, explores whether APDs are related with psychopathology, and reveals their impact on environmental concerns. Study 2 is a larger study (n = 306) aiming at generalizing the basic study 1 results regarding APD experience, and in addition, examining whether APDs is associated with self-reported coping strategies and values in life. Results: Our results indicate that APDs occur to more than half of those participating in ayahuasca ceremonies, typically manifest as strong and transformative experiences, and are associated with an increased sense of transcending death (study 1), as well as the certainty in the continuation of consciousness after death (study 2). No associations were found between having undergone APD experiences and participants' demographics, personality type, and psychopathology. However, APDs were associated with increased self-reported environmental concern (study 1). These experiences also impact life in profound ways. APDs were found to be associated with increases in one's self-reported ability to cope with distress-causing life problems and the sense of fulfillment in life (study 2). Discussion: The study's findings highlight the prevalence, safety and potency of death experiences that occur during ayahuasca ceremonies, marking them as possible mechanisms for psychedelics' long-term salutatory effects in nonclinical populations. Thus, the present results join other efforts of tracking and characterizing the profound subjective experiences that occur during acute psychedelic states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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6. Virtual Daime: When Psychedelic Ritual Migrates Online.
- Author
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Hartogsohn, Ido
- Subjects
RITUAL ,COVID-19 pandemic ,RITES & ceremonies ,SOCIAL anxiety ,SPIRITUALITY - Abstract
During the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic a variety of social activities migrated online, including religious ceremonies and rituals. One such instance is the case of Santo Daime, a Brazilian rainforest religion that utilizes the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca in its rituals. During the pandemic, multiple Santo Daime rituals involving the consumption of ayahuasca took place online, mediated through Zoom and other online platforms. The phenomenon is notable since the effects of hallucinogens are defined by context (set and setting) and Santo Daime rituals are habitually governed by punctilious regulations aimed at directing the experience of participants. The abrupt move to online space thus augurs significant implications in the context of hallucinogenic rituals. This paper looks at this development and its repercussions for entheogenic rituals, as it asks how do psychedelic rituals change when they move online? Building on the author's previous work on set and setting in the Santo Daime religion, the paper introduces accounts from 12 semi-structured interviews with daimistas participating in online daime rituals, approached through the prism of set and setting, and the study of online religiosity. The analysis points at several key dynamics emerging in the context of virtual rituals. The migration online allowed for the continuation of Santo Daime entheogenic rituals at a time of social distancing, fostered a sense of global brotherhood and opened new possibility for religious participation and learning. Concurrently, online ritual produced an impoverished ritual experience and novel types of challenges including a higher potential for distractions, technical difficulties, and low sensory fidelity. Other novel challenges included social anxiety and an in-built tension between the social and spiritual dimensions of ritual. Finally, some participants were concerned by the cultural context of online rituals: technological mediation, consumerism, commodification, and digital divide. The limitations of digital technology appear amplified by the highly immersive, body oriented, experientially intensified context of the psychedelic experience. This paper contributes to the literature on the extra-pharmacological factors shaping experiences with psychedelics, as well as to the literature on the consequences of the adoption of digital media technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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7. De crecer en la selva a practicar la ayahuasca en la ciudad: una exploración de la globalización de la ayahuasca en términos de autenticidad, autoatención y de los retos de dicha globalización para la antropología médica.
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Kohek, Maja, Bouso, José Carlos, and Oña, Genís
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AYAHUASCA ,GLOBALIZATION ,MEDICAL anthropology ,SPIRITUALITY ,VENOM ,RAIN forests ,SHAMANISM ,MEDICAL care - Abstract
Copyright of Revista de Antropología Social is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2023
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- View/download PDF
8. Paradigm Lost: Towards an Evidence-based Ontology in Psychedelic Medicine?
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Marcus, Olivia and Dakwar, Elias
- Published
- 2024
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9. The woman who chose the terreiro. Lay care and medical landscapes in mental health care in Rio de Janeiro.
- Author
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Müller, Manuela R., Ortega, Francisco, and Martínez-Hernáez, Angel
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MENTAL illness treatment ,SOCIAL determinants of health ,HYPERTHYROIDISM ,PHYSICIAN-patient relations ,CULTURAL pluralism ,PSYCHIATRIC treatment ,RELIGION ,HEALTH self-care ,COMORBIDITY ,COGNITIVE therapy - Abstract
Brazilian mental health care reform understands mental health as a complex social process. There is a large literature production within the country focused on deinstitutionalization policy, social determinants of mental health and human rights, however, with little recognition beyond Latin American borders. In addition, cultural dimensions of mental suffering have been neglected in Brazilian debates which limits an expanded understanding of health care and users' inclusion. This paper aims to discuss the role of cultural determinants in mental health care in Brazil. We followed a patient in the city of Rio de Janeiro who opted for therapy based on her religious beliefs—using ayahuasca in the context of the Afro Brazilian religion of Umbanda—over the treatment-as-usual in mental health. We draw on the notions of autoatención (self, domestic, and group-care in lay contexts) and medical landscapes to examine how therapeutic negotiations reflect embodied cultural traits and both social and political determinants shaping therapeutic spaces. We argue that recognizing sociocultural differences and therapeutic negotiations are key elements in making a more inclusive health practice. Moreover, this recognition enables identifying and reasoning the broader social processes framing health practices. This debate is relevant to the Brazilian mental health context and to other scenarios, especially those where local and global knowledge and practices in mental health are entangled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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10. Para una historia crítica del yajé y el ayahuasca: la hipótesis de Gow a la luz del yajé.
- Author
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Nazar, Pedro Musalem
- Abstract
Copyright of Jangwa Pana is the property of Revista Jangwa Pana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Therapeutic Effects of Ceremonial Ayahuasca Use for Methamphetamine Use Disorders and Other Mental Health Challenges: Case Studies in an Indigenous Community in Sonora, Mexico.
- Author
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Loizaga-Velder, Anja, Giovannetti, Cecile, Campoy Gomez, Ricardo, Castillo Valenzuela, Teresa Eduwiges, Ochoa Jaime, Gloria Rachel, Agin-Liebes, Gabrielle, Marcus, Olivia, and Rush, Brian
- Subjects
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MENTAL illness , *MEDICAL personnel , *METHAMPHETAMINE , *GROUP psychotherapy , *TEAM sports , *INDIGENOUS children - Abstract
This paper describes three case studies from an outpatient intercultural therapeutic program founded and run by Yaqui health professionals and traditional healers to serve members of the Yaqui tribe residing in Sonora, Mexico. This pilot therapeutic program has been designed specifically for Indigenous individuals, incorporating the ceremonial use of naturally derived psychedelics in addressing substance use disorders and other mental health issues. The program employs a community-based approach, integrating various traditional Indigenous healing practices like the sweatlodge (temazcal), medicinal plant preparations, and the ritualistic use of selected psychedelics from natural sources (such as ayahuasca, peyote, and secretions from Incilius alvarius). These approaches are complemented by culturally attuned group and individual psychotherapy sessions, as well as group sports, community meals, collaborative construction efforts for a permanent clinical infrastructure, and cultural engagements such as art, crafts, and collective music. To evaluate the program's efficacy, safety, and cultural implications, an ongoing observational study is being conducted by an international team of researchers. The preliminary results demonstrate therapeutic progress and improved psychometric outcomes observed in the three case studies presented, indicating promise for this intercultural therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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12. Psychedelic Treatments for Substance Use Disorder and Substance Misuse: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review.
- Author
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Sharma, Raman, Batchelor, Rachel, and Sin, Jacqueline
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PSILOCYBIN , *SUBSTANCE abuse , *NALTREXONE , *LSD (Drug) , *HALLUCINOGENIC drugs , *MENTAL illness - Abstract
Renewed interest in psychedelic substances in the 21st century has seen the exploration of psychedelic treatments for various psychiatric disorders including substance use disorder (SUD). This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of psychedelic treatments for people with SUD and those falling below diagnostic thresholds (i.e. substance misuse). We systematically searched 11 databases, trial registries, and psychedelic organization websites for empirical studies examining adults undergoing psychedelic treatment for SUD or substance misuse, published in the English language, between 2000 and 2021. Seven studies investigating treatment using psilocybin, ibogaine, and ayahuasca, alone or adjunct with psychotherapy reported across 10 papers were included. Measures of abstinence, substance use, psychological and psychosocial outcomes, craving, and withdrawal reported positive results, however, this data was scarce among studies examining a wide range of addictions including opioid, nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and unspecified substance. The qualitative synthesis from three studies described subjective experience of psychedelic-assisted treatments enhanced self-awareness, insight, and confidence. At present, there is no sufficient research evidence to suggest effectiveness of any of the psychedelics on any specific substance use disorder or substance misuse. Further research using rigorous effectiveness evaluation methods with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-up is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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13. Alterations in brain network connectivity and subjective experience induced by psychedelics: a scoping review.
- Author
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Zijia Yu, Burback, Lisa, Winkler, Olga, Lujie Xu, Dennett, Liz, Vermetten, Eric, Greenshaw, Andrew, Xin-Min Li, Milne, Michaela, Fei Wang, Bo Cao, Winship, Ian R., Yanbo Zhang, and Chan, Allen W.
- Abstract
Intense interest surrounds current research on psychedelics, particularly regarding their potential in treating mental health disorders. Various studies suggest a link between the subjective effects produced by psychedelics and their therapeutic efficacy. Neuroimaging evidence indicates an association of changes in brain functional connectivity with the subjective effects of psychedelics. We conducted a review focusing on psychedelics and brain functional connectivity. The review focused on four psychedelic drugs: ayahuasca, psilocybin and LSD, and the entactogen MDMA. We conducted searches in databases of MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo and Scopus from inception to Jun 2023 by keywords related to functional connectivity and psychedelics. Using the PRISMA framework, we selected 24 articles from an initial pool of 492 for analysis. This scoping review and analysis investigated the effects of psychedelics on subjective experiences and brain functional connectivity in healthy individuals. The studies quantified subjective effects through psychometric scales, revealing significant experiences of altered consciousness, mood elevation, and mystical experiences induced by psychedelics. Neuroimaging results indicated alterations in the functional connectivity of psychedelics, with consistent findings across substances of decreased connectivity within the default mode network and increased sensory and thalamocortical connectivity. Correlations between these neurophysiological changes and subjective experiences were noted, suggesting a brain network basis of the psychedelics' neuropsychological impact. While the result of the review provides a potential neural mechanism of the subjective effects of psychedelics, direct clinical evidence is needed to advance their clinical outcomes. Our research serves as a foundation for further exploration of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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14. Long-term ayahuasca use is associated with preserved global cognitive function and improved memory: a cross-sectional study with ritual users
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Fonseca, Arilton Martins, dos Santos, Rafael Guimarães, de Medeiros, Lívia Soman, Veiga, Thiago André Moura, Cassas, Fernando, Bruniera, Carla Poleselli, Rossi, Giordano Novak, Bouso, José Carlos, Hallak, Jaime E. Cecílio, Santos, Fabiana Pereira, Paranhos, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara, Yonamine, Mauricio, and Rodrigues, Eliana
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- 2024
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15. Psychedelics: Old trips, new destinations in psychopharmacology research.
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de Wit, Harriet and D'Souza, Deepak Cyril
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HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,AYAHUASCA ,LSD (Drug) - Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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16. The Clinical Potential of Dimethyltryptamine: Breakthroughs into the Other Side of Mental Illness, Neurodegeneration, and Consciousness.
- Author
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Colosimo, Frankie A., Borsellino, Philip, Krider, Reese I., Marquez, Raul E., and Vida, Thomas A.
- Subjects
NEUROREHABILITATION ,MENTAL illness ,DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE ,CONSCIOUSNESS ,POST-traumatic stress disorder ,MENTAL health ,RAPHE nuclei - Abstract
The human brain is an extraordinarily complex organ responsible for all aspects of cognition and control. Billions of neurons form connections with thousands of other neurons, resulting in trillions of synapses that create a vast and intricate network. This network is subjected to continuous remodeling that adapts to environmental and developmental changes. The resulting neuroplasticity is crucial to both healthy states and many forms of mental illness and neurodegeneration. This narrative review comprehensively examines N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring hallucinogen and psychedelic compound, focusing on its implications in promoting neuroplasticity via neuritogenesis. We examine DMT's pharmacology, including its interaction with serotonergic, sigma-1, and trace amine-associated receptors and their associated signaling pathways. The therapeutic potential of DMT in both animal models and clinical trials is discussed with impacts on perception, cognition, emotion, and consciousness. We uniquely focus on current directions centered on unveiling the direct mechanisms of DMT's therapeutic effects that demonstrate transformative effects on mental well-being, particularly for conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. We discuss the connection between DMT and neuroplasticity, offering the potential for forming new neural connections, improving learning, memory, and aiding recovery from brain injuries, including neurorehabilitation and neuroregeneration. The ultimate potential of DMT's therapeutic efficacy to enhance neurogenesis, especially for neurodegenerative conditions, is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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17. Drug–drug interactions involving classic psychedelics: A systematic review.
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Halman, Andreas, Kong, Geraldine, Sarris, Jerome, and Perkins, Daniel
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LSD (Drug) ,PSILOCYBIN ,DRUG interactions ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,DRUGS of abuse - Abstract
Classic psychedelics, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), are potent psychoactive substances that have been studied for their physiological and psychological effects. However, our understanding of the potential interactions and outcomes when using these substances in combination with other drugs is limited. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research on drug–drug interactions between classic psychedelics and other drugs in humans. We conducted a thorough literature search using multiple databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and other sources to supplement our search for relevant studies. A total of 7102 records were screened, and studies involving human data describing potential interactions (as well as the lack thereof) between classic psychedelics and other drugs were included. In total, we identified 52 studies from 36 reports published before September 2, 2023, encompassing 32 studies on LSD, 10 on psilocybin, 4 on mescaline, 3 on DMT, 2 on 5-MeO-DMT and 1 on ayahuasca. These studies provide insights into the interactions between classic psychedelics and a range of drugs, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilisers, recreational drugs and others. The findings revealed various effects when psychedelics were combined with other drugs, including both attenuated and potentiated effects, as well as instances where no changes were observed. Except for a few case reports, no serious adverse drug events were described in the included studies. An in-depth discussion of the results is presented, along with an exploration of the potential molecular pathways that underlie the observed effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
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18. Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelics in Treating Anxiety Disorders.
- Author
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Feulner, Leah, Sermchaiwong, Thanpicha, Rodland, Nathan, and Galarneau, David
- Subjects
ANXIETY disorders ,AGORAPHOBIA ,LSD (Drug) ,GENERALIZED anxiety disorder ,SOCIAL anxiety ,SEPARATION anxiety ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs - Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are commonly diagnosed and cause substantial functional impairment. A mixture of pharmaco)logic and psychosocial treatments currently exists, but these treatments are not always tolerable and effective. For patients with anxiety resistant to standard therapy, psychedelics may be a promising alternative. This review assesses the therapeutic benefits and safety of psychedelics in treating anxiety disorders. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL for clinical trials investigating psychedelics in patients with clinician-diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety attributable to another medical condition. We analyzed data from 9 indepen)dent psychedelic-assisted trials testing ayahuasca (1 study), ketamine (4 studies), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (2 studies), 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (1 study), and psilocybin (1 study). Efficacy was assessed by measuring the change in outcome measures and the quality of life from baseline. Results: The reviewed studies demonstrated encouraging efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms, increasing self-perception, and increasing social function in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or anxiety attributable to another medical condition while establishing feasibility and evidence of safety. For many patients, the therapeutic effects of the psychedelic treatment lasted weeks, and no severe adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Based on the evidence of symptom reduction and safety, the current literature (2011 to 2021) shows that psychedelics could be considered for treating clinician-diagnosed anxiety disorders. Psychedelics may provide an alternative therapeutic option for patients resistant to current standard treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. Insights, Life Changes and Lifestyle Changes Reported by Individuals Consuming Ayahuasca in Naturalistic Settings: Nature, Frequency and Associations with Mental Health and Wellbeing.
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Perkins, Daniel, Opaleye, Emerita, Bouso, Jose Carlos, Tófoli, Luis Fernando, Sarris, Jerome, Schubert, Violeta, Ruffell, Simon, and Simonova, Hana
- Subjects
ASSOCIATION of ideas ,WELL-being ,MENTAL health ,BIVARIATE analysis ,HEALTH behavior - Abstract
Background: In the context of increasing scientific interest in the potential therapeutic use of psychedelic agents and their underlying psychotherapeutic mechanisms, we undertake the first detailed assessment of insights and life and lifestyle changes associated with ayahuasca consumption. Methods: An international cross-sectional study of ayahuasca drinkers in a variety of settings was performed (n = 8907). Bivariate analysis and multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to explore associations between a range of covariates and insights, life changes and lifestyle changes. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator variable selection method (LASSO) was used to select the variables most relevant for inclusion in models assessing broader wellbeing and mental health associations. Results: Insights are almost universally reported as part of the ayahuasca experience and are highly valued by drinkers and strongly predictive of subsequent beneficial life and lifestyle changes. A range of personal, vocational, religious/spiritual and health-related life changes (attributed to ayahuasca) are also commonly identified, as are various beneficial lifestyle and health behavior changes. Demographic and ayahuasca drinking variables that are predictive of such phenomena are reported, along with associations between insights, life and lifestyle changes and perceived growth in psychological wellbeing and current mental health status (Kessler 10 and SF-12 MCS). Conclusion: Insights and subsequent life and lifestyle changes appear to have a central role in the transformative effects reported by individuals consuming ayahuasca, with these occurring across contexts of use and demographic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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20. 'Everybody's creating it along the way': ethical tensions among globalized ayahuasca shamanisms and therapeutic integration practices.
- Author
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Marcus, Olivia
- Subjects
MENTAL health personnel ,SHAMANISM ,MENTAL health ,SOCIAL processes ,NANOMEDICINE ,ONTOLOGIES (Information retrieval) ,PUBLIC health ethics - Abstract
Ayahuasca has a variety of traditional uses, yet there is a growing global interest in its potential therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions. Novel approaches to psychotherapy are emerging to address the needs of ayahuasca users to prepare as well as to guide them in 'integrating' their powerful psychedelic experiences, yet there is little discussion on the ethical frameworks that may structure these therapeutic processes or the social and cultural assumptions that influence the assignment of ayahuasca as a medicine. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in San Martín and Loreto, Peru, I examine the varied social meanings and uses of ayahuasca in the Peruvian vegetalista tradition and the potential ethical tensions among curanderos, mental health practitioners, and ayahuasca retreat centres. Practitioners and ayahuasca centres are left with navigating globalized concepts of mental health and ethics while attempting to remain authentic to local ontologies of healing, care, and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Identifying spiritual content in dream and ayahuasca reports
- Author
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Krippner, Stanley
- Published
- 2023
22. Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment
- Author
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Jonathan David, José Carlos Bouso, Maja Kohek, Genís Ona, Nir Tadmor, Tal Arnon, Yair Dor-Ziderman, and Aviva Berkovich-Ohana
- Subjects
ayahuasca ,psychedelics ,death ,self ,environmental concern ,coping ,Psychiatry ,RC435-571 - Abstract
IntroductionDespite an emerging understanding regarding the pivotal mechanistic role of subjective experiences that unfold during acute psychedelic states, very little has been done in the direction of better characterizing such experiences and determining their long-term impact. The present paper utilizes two cross-sectional studies for spotlighting – for the first time in the literature – the characteristics and outcomes of self-reported past experiences related to one’s subjective sense of death during ayahuasca ceremonies, termed here Ayahuasca-induced Personal Death (APD) experiences.MethodsStudy 1 (n = 54) reports the prevalence, demographics, intensity, and impact of APDs on attitudes toward death, explores whether APDs are related with psychopathology, and reveals their impact on environmental concerns. Study 2 is a larger study (n = 306) aiming at generalizing the basic study 1 results regarding APD experience, and in addition, examining whether APDs is associated with self-reported coping strategies and values in life.ResultsOur results indicate that APDs occur to more than half of those participating in ayahuasca ceremonies, typically manifest as strong and transformative experiences, and are associated with an increased sense of transcending death (study 1), as well as the certainty in the continuation of consciousness after death (study 2). No associations were found between having undergone APD experiences and participants’ demographics, personality type, and psychopathology. However, APDs were associated with increased self-reported environmental concern (study 1). These experiences also impact life in profound ways. APDs were found to be associated with increases in one’s self-reported ability to cope with distress-causing life problems and the sense of fulfillment in life (study 2).DiscussionThe study’s findings highlight the prevalence, safety and potency of death experiences that occur during ayahuasca ceremonies, marking them as possible mechanisms for psychedelics’ long-term salutatory effects in non-clinical populations. Thus, the present results join other efforts of tracking and characterizing the profound subjective experiences that occur during acute psychedelic states.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. A pilot study of cerebral metabolism and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor occupancy in rats treated with the psychedelic tryptamine DMT in conjunction with the MAO inhibitor harmine.
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Egger, Klemens, Gudmundsen, Frederik, Jessen, Naja Støckel, Baun, Christina, Poetzsch, Sandra N., Shalgunov, Vladimir, Herth, Matthias M., Quednow, Boris B., Martin-Soelch, Chantal, Dornbierer, Dario, Scheidegger, Milan, Cumming, Paul, and Palner, Mikael
- Subjects
SEROTONIN receptors ,BRAIN metabolism ,TRYPTAMINE ,MONOAMINE oxidase ,METABOLISM ,PSILOCYBIN - Abstract
Rationale: The psychedelic effects of the traditional Amazonian botanical decoction known as ayahuasca are often attributed to agonism at brain serotonin 5-HT
2A receptors by N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). To reduce first pass metabolism of oral DMT, ayahuasca preparations additionally contain reversible monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitors, namely β-carboline alkaloids such as harmine. However, there is lacking biochemical evidence to substantiate this pharmacokinetic potentiation of DMT in brain via systemic MAOA inhibition. Objectives: We measured the pharmacokinetic profile of harmine and/or DMT in rat brain, and tested for pharmacodynamic effects on brain glucose metabolism and DMT occupancy at brain serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Methods: We first measured brain concentrations of harmine and DMT after treatment with harmine and/or DMT at low sub-cutaneous doses (1 mg/kg each) or harmine plus DMT at moderate doses (3 mg/kg each). In the same groups of rats, we also measured ex vivo the effects of these treatments on the availability of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in frontal cortex. Finally, we explored effects of DMT and/or harmine (1 mg/kg each) on brain glucose metabolism with [18 F]FDG-PET. Results: Results confirmed that co-administration of harmine inhibited the formation of the DMT metabolite indole-3-acetic acid (3-IAA) in brain, while correspondingly increasing the cerebral availability of DMT. However, we were unable to detect any significant occupancy by DMT at 5-HT2A receptors measured ex vivo, despite brain DMT concentrations as high as 11.3 μM. We did not observe significant effects of low dose DMT and/or harmine on cerebral [18 F]FDG-PET uptake. Conclusion: These preliminary results call for further experiments to establish the dose-dependent effects of harmine/DMT on serotonin receptor occupancy and cerebral metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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24. Increased clonal growth in heavily harvested ecosystems failed to rescue ayahuasca lianas from decline in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.
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Coe, Michael A. and Gaoue, Orou G.
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LIANAS ,NON-timber forest products ,RAIN forests ,POPULATION dynamics ,VITAL statistics - Abstract
Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2023
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25. "Getting to the Root": Ayahuasca Ceremony Leaders' Perspectives on Eating Disorders.
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Williams, Meris, Kingston Miller, Annie, Loizaga-Velder, Anja, Files, Natasha, and Lafrance, Adele
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EATING disorders ,ENERGY medicine ,RITES & ceremonies ,CONTENT analysis ,HEALING - Abstract
Given the mortality, chronicity, and treatment drop-out rates observed among individuals with eating disorders (EDs), innovative approaches are needed. Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant medicine from the Amazon, is currently being investigated. This study expands on prior exploratory research by describing the perspectives of ayahuasca ceremony leaders regarding their conceptualizations of EDs and the potential therapeutic mechanisms of action of ayahuasca for individuals with EDs. Qualitative content analysis of interviews with 15 ayahuasca ceremony leaders produced two main categories, with relevant subcategories. The first category encompassed the leaders' theories of EDs from a shamanic perspective, including that EDs are symptomatic of an underlying concern, serve a function and affect health in multiple domains. The second category described leaders' perspectives on the potential mechanisms of action of ayahuasca for EDs, including that ayahuasca facilitates "energetic healing"; helps identify, process, and integrate the "root" of the ED; promotes holistic healing; and enhances and/or reorganizes relationships. From the perspectives of ceremony leaders and consistent with previous exploratory research, ceremonial ayahuasca use may offer a potentially useful, novel and complementary intervention for EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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26. Rethinking of structural, scientific, and spiritual solutions for our relationship with the environment based on indigenous knowledge.
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Vicentini, Amanda, Geyer, Philipp, Reinisch, Sophia, and Yingrui Luo
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TRADITIONAL knowledge ,INDIGENOUS peoples ,SPIRITUALITY ,GLOBAL warming ,SHAMANISM ,AYAHUASCA ,SCIENTIFIC knowledge ,SCIENTIFIC community ,QUALITY of life ,URBAN life - Abstract
Copyright of Briefe zur Interdisziplinarität is the property of Oekom Verlag GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2023
27. A Systematic Review of the Neurocognitive Effects of Psychedelics in Healthy Populations: Implications for Depressive Disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Mario Renato Velit-Salazar, Paulo R. Shiroma, and Eloise Cherian
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ayahuasca ,drug–psychotherapy combination ,lysergic acid diethylamide ,MDMA ,psilocybin ,psychedelics ,Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,RC321-571 - Abstract
Objective: This study aims to provide an overview of pharmacological trials that examine the neurocognitive effects of psychedelics among healthy individuals and patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) was used as a guide to structure and report the findings for this review. A literature search included the MEDLINE database up until December 2022. We included randomized or open-label human studies of MDMA, psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, DMT, or cannabis reporting non-emotionally charged neurocognitive outcomes (“cold cognition”) measured through validated neuropsychological tests. Results: A total of 43 full-text papers on MDMA (15), cannabis (12), LSD (6), psilocybin (9), DMT/ayahuasca (1), and mescaline (0) were included, mostly on healthy subjects. A single article on MDMA’s effects on cognition in subjects with PTSD was included; there were no studies on psychedelics and neurocognition in MDD. Most of the studies on healthy subjects reported detrimental or neutral effects on cognition during the peak effect of psychedelics with a few exceptions (e.g., MDMA improved psychomotor function). Performance on the type of neurocognitive dimension (e.g., attention, memory, executive function, psychomotor) varies by type of psychedelic, dosage, and cognitive testing. Conclusions: Small samples and a lack of uniformed methods across studies preclude unequivocal conclusions on whether psychedelics enhance, decrease, or have no significant effect on cognitive performance. It is foreseen that psychedelics will soon become an available treatment for various psychiatric disorders. The acute and long-term effects on cognition caused by psychedelics should be assessed in future studies.
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- 2024
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28. Editorial: Alternative treatments to classical antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression.
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Mikellides, Georgios, Koutsomitros, Theodoros, Evagorou, Olympia, Gkouvas, Nikolaos, Kuan-Pin Su, and Michael, Panayiota
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ANTIDEPRESSANTS ,MENTAL depression ,TRANSCRANIAL magnetic stimulation ,ELECTRIC stimulation - Published
- 2023
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29. Ayahuasca and Public Health II: Health Status in a Large Sample of Ayahuasca-Ceremony Participants in the Netherlands.
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Kohek, Maja, Ona, Genís, van Elk, Michiel, Dos Santos, Rafael Guimarães, Hallak, Jaime E. C., Alcázar-Córcoles, Miguel Ángel, and Bouso, José Carlos
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COVID-19 pandemic ,HEALTH status indicators ,PUBLIC health ,REFERENCE values ,PHYSICAL activity - Abstract
Ayahuasca is a plant decoction in traditional Amazonian medicine. Its ritual use has been internationalized, leading to policy challenges that countries should address. This study evaluates the impact of regular ayahuasca ceremony participation on health by assessing the health status of 377 participants in ayahuasca ceremonies in the Netherlands using validated health indicators. A questionnaire was developed and administered to study participants. The questionnaire included several health indicators with public health relevance (e.g., BMI, diet, physical activity) and psychometrically validated questionnaires (ELS and COPE-easy). The data retrieved through health indicators was compared to normative Dutch data. Participants (50.1% women) were mostly Dutch (84.6%) with a mean age of 48.8 years (SD = 11.6). Compared to normative Dutch data, regular participants in ayahuasca ceremonies showed better general well-being, fewer chronic or lifestyle-related diseases, more physical activity, and a more balanced diet. Participants also used less alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, and although they used more illegal drugs than the general population, they did not report associated harms. Our findings suggest that regular participation in ayahuasca ceremonies is not linked to relevant health harms. This data could help drug policymakers to develop and implement evidence-based public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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30. Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI.
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Timmermann, Christopher, Roseman, Leor, Haridas, Sharad, Rosas, Fernando E., Luan, Lisa, Kettner, Hannes, Martell, Jonny, Erritzoe, David, Tagliazucchi, Enzo, Pallavicini, Carla, Girn, Manesh, Alamia, Andrea, Leech, Robert, Nutt, David J., and Carhart-Harris, Robin L.
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POSITRON emission tomography ,FUNCTIONAL magnetic resonance imaging ,SEROTONIN receptors ,FUNCTIONAL connectivity - Abstract
Psychedelics have attracted medical interest, but their effects on human brain function are incompletely understood. In a comprehensive, within-subjects, placebo- controlled design, we acquired multimodal neuroimaging [i.e., EEG-fMRI (electroencephalography- functional MRI)] data to assess the effects of intravenous (IV) N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) on brain function in 20 healthy volunteers. Simultaneous EEG-fMRI was acquired prior to, during, and after a bolus IV administration of 20 mg DMT, and, separately, placebo. At dosages consistent with the present study, DMT, a serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist, induces a deeply immersive and radically altered state of consciousness. DMT is thus a useful research tool for probing the neural correlates of conscious experience. Here, fMRI results revealed robust increases in global functional connectivity (GFC), network disintegration and desegregation, and a compression of the principal cortical gradient under DMT. GFC × subjective intensity maps correlated with independent positron emission tomography (PET)-derived 5-HT2AR maps, and both overlapped with meta-analytical data implying human-specific psychological functions. Changes in major EEG-measured neurophysiological properties correlated with specific changes in various fMRI metrics, enriching our understanding of the neural basis of DMT’s effects. The present findings advance on previous work by confirming a predominant action of DMT—and likely other 5-HT2AR agonist psychedelics—on the brain’s transmodal association pole, i.e., the neurodevelopmentally and evolutionarily recent cortex that is associated with species-specific psychological advancements, and high expression of 5-HT2A receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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31. Experiences of Listening to Icaros during Ayahuasca Ceremonies at Centro Takiwasi: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.
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GRAHAM, OWAIN J., SAUCEDO, GARY ROJAS, and POLITI, MATTEO
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PSYCHOTHERAPY ,HEALING ,LISTENING ,MUSICOLOGY ,RITES & ceremonies ,SHAMANISM - Abstract
Research on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has shown that music affects therapeutic outcomes at a fundamental level. The development of such therapies calls for research on the use of music with consciousness-altering substances, especially in contexts informed by their traditional use. Informed by ethnographic reports, our project answers this call, investigating the phenomenology of listening to icaros (medicine songs) during ayahuasca ceremonies as reported by addiction rehabilitation patients at Peru's Centro Takiwasi. We found that icaros were therapeutically significant. They elicited experiences of healing by modulating patients' emotions and the altered state induced by ayahuasca. They helped patients feel safe while guiding them through difficult memories and emotions, and facilitating experiences of healing and learning about their addictions. Thus, similar therapies must carefully consider how they incorporate music in their protocols. We suggest further research to better understand the synergistic, therapeutic effects of music and altered states of consciousness, especially in cross-cultural environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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32. An Exploration of the Aberrant Perceptions Experienced by Westerners in the Peruvian Amazon Amid Shipibo Ayahuasca Practices.
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DUDEK, AGNES
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COMMUNITIES ,HEALING ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,SHAMANISM ,ENLIGHTENMENT ,PARTICIPATION - Abstract
Ayahuasca has become a subject of great interest in recent years. Academics, spiritual seekers, communities, and curious individuals have all been intrigued by this topic through either writing about it or direct participation in the contemporary spiritual phenomenon that is ayahuasca, which holds promises of bestowing upon its users profound wisdom or healing. However, what anthropological (but also popular) writings barely comment on are the deviant perceptions that arise out of experiences seeking amelioration or transcendence, and the subjective ways in which those experiences are interpreted. Consequently, I wish to supplement this scope of representation. In this text, I present fieldwork conducted in the Peruvian Amazon amid the Shipibo, focusing on the experiences of the spiritual seekers who came to them in search of healing or self-discovery. I discovered a unique contradiction--participation in Shipibo ayahuasca practices while simultaneously having or developing a negative perception or attitude towards it. These aberrances are held, as I argue herein, (incognizantly) in the expressed attitudes of the Westerners (especially North American and European) as a result of the positivist notions that emerged from the Age of Enlightenment (but are not limited to it). My priority in this article is to present and expound on these atypical associations and place them against a historical (Western) background to elucidate the origin of the thus found and experienced perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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33. Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review.
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Gattuso, James J, Perkins, Daniel, Ruffell, Simon, Lawrence, Andrew J, Hoyer, Daniel, Jacobson, Laura H, Timmermann, Christopher, Castle, David, Rossell, Susan L, Downey, Luke A, Pagni, Broc A, Galvão-Coelho, Nicole L, Nutt, David, and Sarris, Jerome
- Subjects
DEFAULT mode network ,PSILOCYBIN ,LSD (Drug) ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder ,POST-traumatic stress disorder - Abstract
Psychedelics are a unique class of drug that commonly produce vivid hallucinations as well as profound psychological and mystical experiences. A grouping of interconnected brain regions characterized by increased temporal coherence at rest have been termed the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN has been the focus of numerous studies assessing its role in self-referencing, mind wandering, and autobiographical memories. Altered connectivity in the DMN has been associated with a range of neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. To date, several studies have investigated how psychedelics modulate this network, but no comprehensive review, to our knowledge, has critically evaluated how major classical psychedelic agents—lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and ayahuasca—modulate the DMN. Here we present a systematic review of the knowledge base. Across psychedelics there is consistent acute disruption in resting state connectivity within the DMN and increased functional connectivity between canonical resting-state networks. Various models have been proposed to explain the cognitive mechanisms of psychedelics, and in one model DMN modulation is a central axiom. Although the DMN is consistently implicated in psychedelic studies, it is unclear how central the DMN is to the therapeutic potential of classical psychedelic agents. This article aims to provide the field with a comprehensive overview that can propel future research in such a way as to elucidate the neurocognitive mechanisms of psychedelics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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34. Currents of knowledge
- Author
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Ana Flecha
- Subjects
ayahuasca ,bailado ,choreography ,epistemicide ,Santo Daime ,Drama ,PN1600-3307 ,Dramatic representation. The theater ,PN2000-3307 - Abstract
Santo Daime, an ayahuasca religion from the Brazilian Amazon, liturgically mobilizes a group dance called the bailado. Emerging in the 1930s from precarious circumstances instigated by rubber boom cycles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Santo Daime has proven resistant against global systems of epistemicide, the systematic killing off of knowledge forms (SANTOS, 2014). I argue the bailado is key to this resistance as corporeal self-knowledge choreographically positioning participants as both audience and performer. In this paper, teachings from Santo Daime hymns and eighteen years of participant observation are drawn upon to support this argument through choreographic analysis.
- Published
- 2023
35. Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine's Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study.
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Berlowitz, Ilana, García Torres, Ernesto, Maake, Caroline, Wolf, Ursula, and Martin-Soelch, Chantal
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TRADITIONAL medicine ,ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder ,TOBACCO ,MENTAL illness ,ECOLOGICAL momentary assessments (Clinical psychology) ,MEDICINAL plants - Abstract
Harmful usage of tobacco is a global public health problem associated with adverse health effects and addiction. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the native region of Nicotiana rustica L., this plant is used in remarkably different manners: it is considered a potent medicinal plant, applied in liquid form for oral ingestion to treat mental health problems, a common and ancient healing practice in this region. Using a transdisciplinary field research approach with mixed ethnopsychological methods, this work aimed to report for the first time a case study in this context. The intervention took place in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto) and involved ritual tobacco ingestion in a weeklong retreat-like frame, administered by a specialized traditional Amazonian healer. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with diagnosed mood, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders, as well as a chronic somatic condition. We applied qualitative experience-sampling during and quantitative symptom assessments pre- and post-treatment. Our findings offer a detailed description of the experiential therapeutic process during the treatment week and suggest clinically relevant improvements in patient well-being. This work is significant in view of the globally prevalent harmful uses of tobacco and the current scientific trend of revisiting herbal psychoactives (e.g., cannabis, psilocybin) for their therapeutic potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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36. The Psychedelic Renaissance in Clinical Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Three Decades of Human Studies with Psychedelics.
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Hadar, Aviad, David, Jonathan, Shalit, Nadav, Roseman, Leor, Gross, Raz, Sessa, Ben, and Lev-Ran, Shaul
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BIBLIOMETRICS ,PSILOCYBIN ,MEDICAL research ,LSD (Drug) ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,DRUG approval - Abstract
Psychedelics were used in the treatment of psychiatric conditions prior to their prohibition in the late 1960s. In the past three decades, there is a revived research interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs with expected FDA approvals for treatment of various conditions. Given the exponential scientific growth of this field, we sought to characterize, analyze, and visualize trends in its top-cited articles. Bibliometric analyses are quantitative approaches to characterize a scientific field, including evaluation of the impact of academic literature. The bibliometric analysis and visualizations were conducted with R-tools for comprehensive science mapping. The top-cited 100 articles were cited between 82 and 668 times (median 125; mean 158). Fifty-four percent of the T100 articles were produced in the past decade (2010–2020). Network and author impact analysis highlighted key figures and primary collaboration networks within the top 100 publications. UK, USA, Switzerland, Spain, and Brazil lead the field. Results are discussed in terms of research growth, access, diversity, and the distribution of knowledge and experience in the field. These aggregated data and insights on the second wave of psychedelic research facilitate research evaluation, data-driven funding policies, and a practical map for researchers and clinicians entering the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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37. Classic psychedelics and alcohol use disorders: A systematic review of human and animal studies.
- Author
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Calleja‐Conde, Javier, Morales‐García, Jose Angel, Echeverry‐Alzate, Víctor, Bühler, Kora Mareen, Giné, Elena, López‐Moreno, Jose Antonio, Calleja-Conde, Javier, Morales-García, Jose Angel, Echeverry-Alzate, Víctor, and López-Moreno, Jose Antonio
- Subjects
THERAPEUTIC use of LSD ,MESCALINE ,LSD (Drug) ,ALCOHOLISM ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,RESEARCH funding ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,ANIMALS ,PHARMACODYNAMICS - Abstract
Classic psychedelics refer to substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, which induce altered states of consciousness by acting mainly on 5-HT2A receptors. Recently, the interest of psychedelics as pharmacological treatment for psychiatric disorders has increased significantly, including their use on problematic use of alcohol. This systematic review is aimed to analyse the last two decades of studies examining the relationship between classic psychedelics and alcohol consumption. We searched PubMed and PsycInfo for human and preclinical studies published between January 2000 to December 2021. The search identified 639 publications. After selection, 27 studies were included. Human studies (n = 20) generally show promising data and seem to indicate that classic psychedelics could help reduce alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, some of these studies present methodological concerns such as low number of participants, lack of control group or difficulty in determining the effect of classic psychedelics in isolation. On the other hand, preclinical studies (n = 7) investigating the effect of these compounds on voluntary alcohol consumption are scarce and show some conflicting data. Among these compounds, psilocybin seems to show the most consistent data indicating that this compound could be a potential candidate to treat alcohol use disorders. In the absence of understanding the biological and/or psychological mechanisms, more studies including methodological quality parameters are needed to finally determine the effects of classic psychedelics on alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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38. Understanding ayahuasca effects in major depressive disorder treatment through invitro metabolomics and bioinformatics
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Zandonadi, Flávia S., Silva, Alex Ap. Rosini, Melo, Aline A. S., Ignarro, Raffaela S., Matos, Taynara S., Santos, Emerson A. F., Barbosa, Luidy D., Oliveira, Alexandre L. R., Porcari, Andréia M., and Sussulini, Alessandra
- Published
- 2023
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39. Changes in mental health, wellbeing and personality following ayahuasca consumption: Results of a naturalistic longitudinal study.
- Author
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Perkins, Daniel, Pagni, Broc A., Sarris, Jerome, Barbosa, Paulo C. R., and Chenhall, Richard
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MENTAL health ,WELL-being ,PERSONALITY ,LONGITUDINAL method ,PEARSON correlation (Statistics) ,INDIVIDUALIZED medicine ,OXYGEN consumption - Abstract
Background: Naturalistic and placebo-controlled studies suggest ayahuasca, a potent psychedelic beverage originating from Indigenous Amazonian tradition, may improve mental health, alter personality structure, and reduce alcohol and drug intake. To better understand ayahuasca's therapeutic potential and to identify factors that influence therapeutic efficacy, we conducted a naturalistic, longitudinal study of facilitated ayahuasca consumption in naïve participants using a comprehensive battery of self-report questionnaires. Materials and Methods: Ayahuasca naive individuals registering for ayahuasca ceremonies were asked to complete a range of validated questionnaires assessing mental health, alcohol/cannabis use, relationships, personality, and connection to self and spirituality, prior to and 1 month after attending an ayahuasca ceremony. Data for two mental health measures (the DASS-21 and PANAS) and acute subjective effects via the MEQ-30 were also assessed 7 days post-ceremony. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to examine pre-topost changes, and Pearson correlations explored predictors of improvement in outcomes. Results: Fifty-three attendees (32 women, 21 men) completed pre and post ayahuasca assessments with 55.6% of the sample reporting a complete mystical experience based on the MEQ-30. One-month post-ayahuasca, significant reductions were identified in depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and cannabis use, body dissociation, accepting external influence, self-alienation, impulsivity, and negative affect/emotionality. Significant increases were identified in positive mood, self-efficacy, authentic living, extraversion, agreeableness, open-mindedness, spirituality, and satisfaction with relationships. While facets of the mystical experience held little predictive validity on outcome measures, baseline traits, particularly high negative emotionality and body dissociation, and low sense of self-efficacy, robustly predicted improvements in mental health and alcohol/cannabis use, and alterations in personality structure which are linked to better mental health. Discussion: This study suggests facilitated ayahuasca consumption in naïve participants may precipitate wide-ranging improvements in mental health, relationships, personality structure, and alcohol use. Associations between baseline traits and therapeutic improvements mark an important first step toward personalized, precision-based medicine and warrant randomized controlled trials to confirm and elaborate on these findings. Contribution Statement: Longitudinal, observational studies and randomized clinical control trials suggest ayahuasca may exert therapeutic effects on mental health and alcohol/cannabis use, and alter personality structure. However, it is unclear if improvements are diagnosis-specific and factors that predict therapeutic gains have yet to be extensively elucidated. This longitudinal, observational study examined the effects of facilitated ayahuasca consumption in naive participants on mental health, alcohol and substance use/abuse, personality traits, relationships, and connection to self and spirituality. We found wide-ranging improvements 1-month post-treatment across these domains, and identified baseline traits which predict pre-to-post changes on primary outcome measures. Improvements were not diagnosticspecific, suggesting ayahuasca may be generally efficacious. Personality traits, body dissociation, and self-efficacy were strong predictors of therapeutic improvements, marking an important first step toward personalized, precision-based medicine. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm and elaborate on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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40. Evidence on the impairing effects of Ayahuasca on fear memory reconsolidation.
- Author
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Daneluz, Daiane Momo, Sohn, Jeferson Machado Batista, Silveira, Gabriela O., Yonamine, Maurício, and Stern, Cristina Aparecida
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HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,AYAHUASCA ,POST-traumatic stress disorder ,CARBOLINES ,DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE ,NEUROPLASTICITY - Abstract
Rationale: To uncover whether psychedelic drugs attenuate fear memory responses would advance the development of better psychedelic-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ayahuasca (AYA), a psychedelic brew containing indolamine N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carbolines, facilitates fear extinction and improves neural plasticity. Upon retrieval, fear memory undergoes labilization and reconsolidation; however, the effects of AYA on this memory stabilization phase are unknown. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of AYA treatment on fear memory reconsolidation. Methods: Fear-conditioned Wistar rats received AYA (60, 120, or 240 mg/kg) or H
2 O orally via gavage o.g. 20 min before, immediately, or 3 h after a short retrieval session. Analysis of AYA through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine the content of DMT and β-carbolines in AYA. Results: AYA impaired fear memory reconsolidation when given 20 min before or 3 h after memory retrieval, with the dose of 60 mg/kg being effective at both moments. This dose of AYA was devoid of anxiolytic effect. Importantly, during retrieval, AYA did not change fear expression. The lack of retrieval abolished the reconsolidation impairing effect of AYA. The effects of AYA treatment 20 min before or 3 h after memory retrieval lasted at least 22 days, suggesting no spontaneous recovery of fear memory. Fear memory impairments induced by AYA treatment, at both moments, do not show reinstatement. Conclusions: Our findings support the view that a low dose of AYA treatment impairs early and late stages of memory reconsolidation instead of facilitating fear extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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41. The socialization of hallucinations: Cultural priors, social interactions, and contextual factors in the use of psychedelics.
- Author
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Dupuis, David
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SOCIALIZATION ,HALLUCINATIONS ,FIELD research ,INTERVIEWING ,COGNITION ,ETHNOLOGY research ,INTERPERSONAL relations ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,ETHNOLOGY ,EMOTIONS ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs - Abstract
The effects of so-called "psychedelic" or "hallucinogenic" substances are known for their strong conditionality on context. While the so-called culturalist approach to the study of hallucinations has won the favor of anthropologists, the vectors by which the features of visual and auditory imagery are structured by social context have been so far little explored. Using ethnographic data collected in a shamanic center of the Peruvian Amazon and an anthropological approach dialoguing with phenomenology and recent models of social cognition of Bayesian inspiration, I aim to shed light on the nature of these dynamics through an approach I call the "socialization of hallucinations." Distinguishing two levels of socialization of hallucinations, I argue that cultural background and social interactions organize the relationship not only to the hallucinogenic experience, but also to its very phenomenological content. I account for the underpinnings of the socialization of hallucinations proposing such candidate factors as the education of attention, the categorization of perceptions, and the shaping of emotions and expectations. Considering psychedelic experiences in the light of their noetic properties and cognitive penetrability debates, I show that they are powerful vectors of cultural transmission. I question the ethical stakes of this claim, at a time when the use of psychedelics is becoming increasingly popular in the global North. I finally emphasize the importance of better understanding the extrapharmacological factors of the psychedelic experience and its subjective implications, and sketch out the basis for an interdisciplinary methodology in order to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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42. Adverse events in clinical treatments with serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA: A mixed-methods systematic review.
- Author
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Breeksema, Joost J, Kuin, Bouwe W, Kamphuis, Jeanine, van den Brink, Wim, Vermetten, Eric, and Schoevers, Robert A
- Abstract
Introduction: Small-scale clinical studies with psychedelic drugs have shown promising results for the treatment of several mental disorders. Before psychedelics become registered medicines, it is important to know the full range of adverse events (AEs) for making balanced treatment decisions.Objective: To systematically review the presence of AEs during and after administration of serotonergic psychedelics and 3,4-methyenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in clinical studies.Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov for clinical trials with psychedelics since 2000 describing the results of quantitative and qualitative studies.Results: We included 44 articles (34 quantitative + 10 qualitative), describing treatments with MDMA and serotonergic psychedelics (psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and ayahuasca) in 598 unique patients. In many studies, AEs were not systematically assessed. Despite this limitation, treatments seemed to be overall well tolerated. Nausea, headaches, and anxiety were commonly reported acute AEs across diagnoses and compounds. Late AEs included headaches (psilocybin, MDMA), fatigue, low mood, and anxiety (MDMA). One serious AE occurred during MDMA administration (increase in premature ventricular contractions requiring brief hospitalization); no other AEs required medical intervention. Qualitative studies suggested that psychologically challenging experiences may also be therapeutically beneficial. Except for ayahuasca, a large proportion of patients had prior experience with psychedelic drugs before entering studies.Conclusions: AEs are poorly defined in the context of psychedelic treatments and are probably underreported in the literature due to study design (lack of systematic assessment of AEs) and sample selection. Acute challenging experiences may be therapeutically meaningful, but a better understanding of AEs in the context of psychedelic treatments requires systematic and detailed reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Editorial: Current Debates on Sacred Plants.
- Author
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Frenopoulo, Christian and Goulart, Sandra Lucia
- Subjects
WISDOM ,HALLUCINOGENIC drugs - Abstract
The articles in this special edition exemplify three major issues in current debates on Sacred Plants: a) the wisdom of Indigenous understandings of sacred plants, b) beneficial emerging uses of sacred plants by non‐Indigenous people, c) the position of Indigenous wisdom for emerging uses of sacred plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Consume and Transform: Perfumes and healing in vegetalista healing practices of the Peruvian Amazon.
- Subjects
SHAMANISM ,PERFUMES ,HEALING ,FLOWERING of plants ,EIGHTEENTH century ,MEDICINAL plants ,HISTORY of anthropology - Abstract
The use of perfumes, incense, colognes, and plant and flower essences in Amazonian healing practices is a hallmark feature of vegetalismo, a form of healing in Peru's Amazonian regions. Sprayed, smoked, rubbed on bodies, and poured in medicinal baths, these odorous tools are vital allies to the curandero for cleansing bodies and spaces, for protection, or to add potency to medicinal plants. Certain perfumes are more common than others, particularly the citrusy Agua de Florida, an 18th Century eau de cologne from the United States. Focusing in on the history of Agua de Florida and its ubiquity in Western Amazonia, I suggest the necessity of a sensory anthropology for exploring the vast healing potential of vegetalismo. Going beyond the visual to consider other sensory experiences lends insight into the various healing mechanisms in Amazonian shamanism that are often overlooked by western epistemologies of health and healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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45. Psychedelics, Mystical Experience, and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Systematic Review.
- Author
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Ko, Kwonmok, Knight, Gemma, Rucker, James J., and Cleare, Anthony J.
- Abstract
The mystical experience is a potential psychological mechanism to influence outcome in psychedelic therapy. It includes features such as oceanic boundlessness, ego dissolution, and universal interconnectedness, which have been closely linked to both symptom reduction and improved quality of life. In this review, 12 studies of psychedelic therapy utilizing psilocybin, ayahuasca, or ketamine were analyzed for association between mystical experience and symptom reduction, in areas as diverse as cancer-related distress, substance use disorder, and depressive disorders to include treatment-resistant. Ten of the twelve established a significant association of correlation, mediation, and/or prediction. A majority of the studies are limited, however, by their small sample size and lack of diversity (gender, ethnic, racial, educational, and socioeconomic), common in this newly re-emerging field. Further, 6 out of 12 studies were open-label in design and therefore susceptible to bias. Future studies of this nature should consider a larger sample size with greater diversity and thus representation by use of randomized design. More in-depth exploration into the nature of mystical experience is needed, including predictors of intensity, in order to maximize its positive effects on treatment outcome benefits and minimize concomitant anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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46. Ceremony Leaders' Perspectives on the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Ayahuasca Drinking in Ceremonial Contexts.
- Author
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Williams, Meris, Crotty, Sean, Callon, Cody, and Lafrance, Adele
- Subjects
MENTAL health services ,RITES & ceremonies ,PREPAREDNESS - Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic plant-based tea from the Amazon used for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Research suggests its utility in the treatment of various mental health conditions. Potential risks are also being identified. Largely absent from this literature have been the perspectives of ayahuasca ceremony leaders, whose knowledge and experience are vital to understanding the potential risks and benefits of drinking ayahuasca. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of 15 ayahuasca ceremony leaders regarding facilitative ceremony conditions, contraindications, and psychedelic emergencies. An inventory of every concern related to ceremonial ayahuasca use mentioned by the leaders is also presented. The findings are useful for clinicians and policy-makers, and relevant to the application of psychedelic medicine more broadly, informing the dialogue regarding the potential utility of psychedelic-assisted mental health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
47. Ayahuasca and tobacco smoking cessation: results from an online survey in Brazil.
- Author
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Daldegan-Bueno, Dimitri, Maia, Lucas Oliveira, Massarentti, Carolina Marcolino, and Tófoli, Luís Fernando
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AYAHUASCA ,SMOKING cessation ,TOBACCO products ,COMPULSIVE behavior - Published
- 2022
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48. Assessing the risk–benefit profile of classical psychedelics: a clinical review of second-wave psychedelic research.
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Bender, David and Hellerstein, David J.
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HALLUCINOGENIC drugs ,PSILOCYBIN ,LSD (Drug) ,AYAHUASCA ,MENTAL depression ,ADVERSE health care events - Published
- 2022
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49. Therapeutic effect of an ayahuasca analogue in clinically depressed patients: a longitudinal observational study.
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van Oorsouw, Kim, Toennes, S. W., and Ramaekers, J. G.
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AYAHUASCA ,FIELD research ,BECK Depression Inventory ,ANXIETY ,PSYCHOLOGICAL stress ,MINDFULNESS - Published
- 2022
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50. Effects of ayahuasca and its alkaloids on substance use disorders: an updated (2016–2020) systematic review of preclinical and human studies.
- Author
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Rodrigues, Lucas Silva, Rossi, Giordano Novak, Rocha, Juliana Mendes, L Osório, Flávia, Bouso, José Carlos, Hallak, Jaime E. Cecílio, and dos Santos, Rafael G.
- Subjects
SUBSTANCE abuse ,HUMAN experimentation ,TREATMENT effectiveness ,DRUG utilization ,SCIENTIFIC observation - Abstract
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic/psychedelic traditionally used for ritual and therapeutic purposes. One such therapeutic use is related to Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). A previous systematic review of preclinical and human studies published until 2016 suggested that ayahuasca and its alkaloids have therapeutic effects in the treatment of SUDs. To conduct an update of this previous review. A systematic review of quantitative studies which analyzed the effects of ayahuasca and its alkaloids on drug use (primary outcome) and other measures (secondary outcomes) related to SUDs was conducted, including articles from 2016 to 2020. Nine studies (four preclinical, five observational) were included in the review. Preclinical studies in rodents reported reductions in amphetamine self-administration and anxiety, and in alcohol- and methylphenidate-induced conditioned place preference. Observational studies among healthy ritual ayahuasca users and patients with SUDs reported reductions in drug use, anxiety, and depression, and increases in quality of life and well-being. We replicated the findings of the previous review suggesting that ayahuasca and its alkaloids have therapeutic effects in the treatment of SUDs. However, translation of preclinical data to humans is limited, observational studies do not allow us to infer causality, and there is a lack of standardization on ayahuasca doses. Although promising, randomized, controlled trials are needed to better elucidate these results. The PROSPERO ID for this study is CRD42020192046. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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