Altered states of consciousness and short-term psychological after-effects induced by the first time ritual use of ayahuasca in an urban context in Brazil

研究概要

Twenty-eight participants in two separate ayahuasca rituals (19 Santo Daime and 9 Uniao do Vegetal) were evaluated before and after their first time of ayahuasca use. Semi structured interviews were used for qualitative analysis, as well as the quantitative scales the Altered States of Conciousness (ASC), the Dimensions of Behavioural Change and the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised (CIS-R). A majority of participants reported increases in the ASC scales of visual phenomena, numinousness, peacfulness and insights with only one reporting a distressing reaction. A significant reduction was seen in the intensity of minor psychiatric symptoms following ayahuasca use in the Santo Daime subgroup.