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

ABSTRACT: Ayahuasca is a plant concoction containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and certain β-carboline alkaloids from South America. Previous research in naturalistic settings has suggested that ingestion of ayahuasca can improve mental health and well-being; however, these studies were not placebo controlled and did not control for the possibility of expectation bias. This naturalistic observational study was designed to assess whether mental health changes were produced by ayahuasca or by set and setting. Assessments were made pre- and post-ayahuasca sessions in 30 experienced participants of ayahuasca retreats hosted in the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. Participants consumed ayahuasca (N = 14) or placebo (N = 16). Analysis revealed a main effect of time on symptoms of depression, anxiety, a

SUBMITTER: Uthaug MV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8233273 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature