Switch to mania after ayahuasca consumption in a man with bipolar disorder: a case report
Smith, J. M., Szmulewicz, A. G., Valerio, M. P.
This case report describes the clinical profile of a man from Argentina with a family history of bipolar disorder who participated in a four-day Ayahuasca ceremony that led to the eruption of a hypomanic episode two days after, consisting of mystical and paranoid delusional ideas, auditory hallucinations, racing thoughts, disorganized behavior, elevated energy, and manic euphoria. Given that the remission of psychotic symptoms was immediately followed by an onset of depressive symptoms, the authors theorize that antidepressant effects of harmine may have occasioned the manic shift of his bipolar disorder.
Abstract
Background: There is an increasing use of ayahuasca for recreational purposes. Furthermore, there is a growing evidence for the antidepressant properties of its components. However, there are no reports on the effects of this substance in the psychiatric setting. Harmaline, one of the main components of ayahuasca, is a selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitor and a serotonin reuptake inhibitor.Case report: We present the case of a man with bipolar disorder who had a manic episode after an ayahuasca consumption ritual. This patient had had at least one hypomanic episode in the past and is currently depressed. We discuss the diagnostic repercussion of this manic episode.Conclusion: There is lack of specificity in the diagnosis of substance-induced mental disorder. The knowledge of the pharmacodynamic properties of ayahuasca consumption allows a more physiopathological approach to the diagnosis of the patient.