Depressive DisordersAnxiety DisordersCreativityAyahuasca

Sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on affect and cognitive thinking style and their association with ego dissolution

This longitudinal study (n=57) investigated the effects of ayahuasca and found improved convergent thinking/creativity, decreased ratings of depression and stress up to four weeks later. These changes were significantly correlated with the level of ego dissolution experienced during the acute trip/ceremony.

Authors

  • Jordi Riba
  • Kim Kuypers
  • Johannes Ramaekers

Published

Psychopharmacology
individual Study

Abstract

Rationale

Ayahuasca is a psychotropic plant tea from South America used for religious purposes by indigenous people of the Amazon. Increasing evidence indicates that ayahuasca may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of mental health disorders and can enhance mindfulness-related capacities. Most research so far has focused on acute and sub-acute effects of ayahuasca on mental health-related parameters and less on long-term effects.

Objectives

The present study aimed to assess sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on well-being and cognitive thinking style. The second objective was to assess whether sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca depend on the degree of ego dissolution that was experienced after consumption of ayahuasca.

Results

Ayahuasca ceremony attendants (N = 57) in the Netherlands and Colombia were assessed before, the day after, and 4 weeks following the ritual. Relative to baseline, ratings of depression and stress significantly decreased after the ayahuasca ceremony and these changes persisted for 4 weeks. Likewise, convergent thinking improved post-ayahuasca ceremony up until the 4 weeks follow-up. Satisfaction with life and several aspects of mindfulness increased the day after the ceremony, but these changes failed to reach significance 4 weeks after. Changes in affect, satisfaction with life, and mindfulness were significantly correlated to the level of ego dissolution experienced during the ayahuasca ceremony and were unrelated to previous experience with ayahuasca.

Conclusion

It is concluded that ayahuasca produces sub-acute and long-term improvements in affect and cognitive thinking style in non-pathological users. These data highlight the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in the treatment of mental health disorders, such as depression.

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Research Summary of 'Sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on affect and cognitive thinking style and their association with ego dissolution'

Introduction

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian plant brew that combines DMT-containing Psychotria viridis with MAO-inhibiting Banisteriopsis caapi alkaloids, producing prolonged psychedelic effects. Earlier work has reported acute increases in aspects of mindfulness and divergent thinking during the psychedelic state, anecdotal reports of spiritual insight and improved outlook, and preliminary clinical observations of rapid antidepressant effects lasting days to weeks. However, most research has concentrated on acute and sub-acute effects, and there is limited evidence on whether such effects persist over longer intervals or how they relate to aspects of the acute experience such as ego dissolution. Uthaug and colleagues set out to evaluate sub-acute (the day after) and longer-term (4 weeks) changes in affect, mindfulness-related capacities, and cognitive thinking style in naturalistic ceremony attendants. A secondary aim was to test whether these changes were associated with the intensity of ego-dissolution experienced during the ayahuasca ceremony. The researchers hypothesised increases in mindfulness, life satisfaction, and divergent thinking together with reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress, and expected that positive changes would correlate with ego-dissolution ratings and persist at 4 weeks.

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Study Details

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