A placebo-controlled study of the effects of ayahuasca, set and setting on mental health of participants in ayahuasca group retreats

Este estudio ha sido identificado como potencialmente de alto impacto. La métrica de alto impacto de OE, basada en la inteligencia artificial, estima la influencia que puede tener un artículo integrando señales procedentes tanto de la revista en la que se publica como del contenido científico del propio artículo. Desarrollado mediante el procesamiento del lenguaje natural más avanzado, el modelo de Alto Impacto de OE predice con mayor precisión el futuro rendimiento de las citas de un estudio que el factor de impacto de la revista por sí solo. Esto permite reconocer antes las investigaciones clínicamente significativas y ayuda a los lectores a centrarse en los artículos con más probabilidades de configurar la práctica futura.

Resumen del estudio

Thirty participants with a range of experience using ayahuasca were randomized to receive 14.1-20.1mg of ayahuasca or placebo in this naturalistic, placebo-controlled, observational study exploring the the role of set and setting on the psychological effects of ayahuasca after participation in a non-clinical ayahuasca ceremony. Empathy, subjective drug effects and symptoms of depression stress and anxiety were assessed using the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI), the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21), the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), and the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-39). Study findings indicate that ayahuasca increased emotional empathy to negative stimuli compared to placebo. Subjective ratings of the psychedelic experience were relatively low in both treatment groups and no significant between-group differences were found. Ratings of stress, depression, and anxiety were lower after the ceremony as compared to base-line, independent of treatment group.