Ayahuasca improves emotion dysregulation in a community sample and in individuals with borderline-like traits
This observational study (n=45) suggests that ayahuasca may have a beneficial effect on psychological functioning by improving mindfulness-related capacities. The authors suggest that ayahuasca-assisted therapy could play a role in treating those with borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits.
Authors
- Jordi Riba
- Marta Valle
- Matilde Elices
Published
Abstract
Background
Research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions may improve mindfulness-related capacities (e.g., decentering, non-judging, and non-reacting) and emotion regulation. Previously, our group reported that ayahuasca could be a potential analogue of mindfulness practice. The main aim of the current study was to examine the effects of ayahuasca on emotional regulation and mindfulness-related capacities. Secondarily, we sought to explore the effects of ayahuasca on individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits.
Method
This is an observational study of 45 volunteers who participated in an ayahuasca session. The volunteers completed various self-report instruments designed to measure emotional dysregulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)) and mindfulness traits (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)-Short Form and Experiences Questionnaire (EQ)) prior to and 24 h after the ayahuasca session. The volunteers were divided into two subgroups based on their score on the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD). Twelve participants were grouped into the BPD-like traits subgroup while the rest of them were included in the non-BPD-like subgroup. We performed within-subjects and between-group analyses.
Results
Overall, the participants showed significant improvements on the FFMQ subscales observing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reacting and also significantly improved on decentering (EQ scale) and on the DERS subscales emotional non-acceptance, emotional interference, and lack of control. The BPD-like subgroup also showed significant improvements on the DERS subscales emotional interference and lack of control but not in mindfulness capacities.
Conclusions
These findings suggest a potential therapeutic effect for ayahuasca in emotion regulation and mindfulness capacities (including decentering, acceptance, awareness, and sensitivity to meditation practice). Based on these results, we believe that ayahuasca therapy could be of value in clinical populations, such as individuals with BPD, affected by emotion dysregulation.
Research Summary of 'Ayahuasca improves emotion dysregulation in a community sample and in individuals with borderline-like traits'
Introduction
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian psychoactive brew prepared from Banisteriopsis caapi (containing β-carboline monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as harmine and tetrahydroharmine) and Psychotria viridis (which contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine, DMT). Orally, DMT is rendered active by the β-carbolines' MAO-inhibiting action. Acute ayahuasca exposure produces a conscious, dream-like state marked by introspection, visual phenomena and heightened emotion; pharmacological actions implicated include 5-HT2A/5-HT1A agonism by DMT and interactions with the sigma-1 receptor, which may promote neural plasticity. Prior studies have reported beneficial effects of ayahuasca on depression, anxiety, substance use and wellbeing, and some work has suggested that a single session can enhance mindfulness-related capacities such as decentering, non-judging and non-reactivity—capacities that overlap with those trained in mindfulness-based interventions. The present study, led by Domínguez-Clavé and colleagues, set out to evaluate whether ayahuasca alters emotion regulation (ER) and mindfulness-related capacities in a community sample. A secondary aim was to explore these effects in a subgroup of participants exhibiting borderline personality disorder (BPD)-like traits, given that emotion dysregulation is central to BPD and that improvements in decentering and mindfulness are therapeutic targets in this population. The study therefore tested pre-to-24-hour-post changes on validated self-report measures of ER, mindfulness facets and decentering in volunteers attending naturalistic ayahuasca ceremonies.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Domínguez-Clavé, E., Soler, J., Pascual, J. C., Elices, M., Franquesa, A., Valle, M., Alvarez, E., & Riba, J. (2019). Ayahuasca improves emotion dysregulation in a community sample and in individuals with borderline-like traits. Psychopharmacology, 236(2), 573-580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5085-3
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