Abstract
Background: The therapeutic effects of the Amazonian plant tea ayahuasca may relate to its ability to enhance mindfulness capacities. Ayahuasca induces a modified state of awareness through the combined action of its active principles: the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and a series of centrally acting β-carbolines, mainly harmine and tetrahydroharmine. To better understand the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, here we compared the impact on mindfulness capacities induced by two independent interventions: (a) participation in four ayahuasca sessions without any specific purpose related to improving mindfulness capacities; and (b) participation in a standard mindfulness training course: 8 weeks mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), with the specific goal of improving these skills.Methods: Participants of two independent groups completed two self-report instruments: The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ). The MINDSENS Composite Index was also calculated, including those EQ and FFMQ items that have proven to be the most sensitive to meditation practice. Group A (n = 10) was assessed before and after the last of four closely spaced consecutive ayahuasca sessions. Group B (n = 10) was assessed before and after completion of a standard 8-week MBSR course.Results: MBSR training led to greater increases in overall mindfulness scores after the 8-week period. MBSR but not ayahuasca led to increases in the MINDSENS Composite Index. However, the ayahuasca sessions induced comparable increases in the Non-Judging subscale of the FFMQ, specifically measuring “acceptance.” Improving this capacity allows for a more detached and less judgmental stance toward potentially distressing thoughts and emotions.Results: The present findings suggest that a small number of ayahuasca sessions can be as effective at improving acceptance as more lengthy and costly interventions. Future studies should address the benefits of combining ayahuasca administration with mindfulness-based interventions. This will allow us to investigate if ayahuasca will improve the outcome of psychotherapeutic interventions.
Highlights
In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the potential use of psychedelics for the treatment of different psychiatric conditions (Sessa, 2005; Mithoefer et al, 2016)
In a subsequent study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we reported that post-acute metabolic and connectivity changes in the brain after a single ayahuasca session were associated with maintained elevations in the nonjudgmental attitudes 2 months later (Sampedro et al, 2017)
In the ayahuasca group a significant pre–post improvement was found for Non-Judging [t(9) = −2.67, p = 0.02], while no significant pre–post differences were observed for the remaining FFMQ facets: Observing [t(9) = −1.10, p = 0.29], Describing [t(9) = −1.45, p = 0.17], Acting with awareness [t(9) = −1.86, p = 0.09], and Non-Reacting [t(9) = −1.23, p = 0.25]
Summary
In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the potential use of psychedelics for the treatment of different psychiatric conditions (Sessa, 2005; Mithoefer et al, 2016). DMT is the main psychotropic agent of ayahuasca, and possibly the responsible for the dream-like experience induced by the tea. This modified state of consciousness is characterized by the presence of visual imagery and the recollection of highly emotional autobiographic memories (Riba et al, 2001). DMT has been regarded as the primary ayahuasca compound acting on the CNS, recent research has shown that the β-carbolines may have a relevant contribution to the overall effects of ayahuasca in the brain. Ayahuasca induces a modified state of awareness through the combined action of its active principles: the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and a series of centrally acting β-carbolines, mainly harmine and tetrahydroharmine. To better understand the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, here we compared the impact on mindfulness capacities induced by two independent interventions: (a) participation in four ayahuasca sessions without any specific purpose related to improving mindfulness capacities; and (b) participation in a standard mindfulness training course: 8 weeks mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), with the specific goal of improving these skills
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