Source: ICEERS
Publication Date: July 26th, 2013
Longitudinal Study on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Novel Ayahuasca Users
For contact, collaboration and further information please refer to the original link here.
Publication Date: July 26th, 2013
Longitudinal Study on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Novel Ayahuasca Users
Motivation of the study
Recent observational studies have shown that prolonged use of ayahuasca (a minimum of 15 years) does not cause adverse effects on the mental health. However, it is unknown if psychiatric pathologies occur in people that abandon the use of ayahuasca. Little is known about why people usually initiate the use of ayahuasca, why they interrupt their participation in ayahuasca sessions and whether their experiences were useful in regards to the intention of their use.
Objectives
- Assessing personality characteristics of people who start drinking ayahuasca.
- To evaluate the presence of psychopathology in people who start drinking ayahuasca.
- To keep track of the people that have initiated themselves in the use of ayahuasca.
- Assess changes in personality throughout the assessments.
- Knowing the reasons why people take ayahuasca and assess their perceived effectiveness.
Methodology
For this study we will recruit a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 100 adult volunteers, of both sexes, assess their intentions and the context of use, such as ayahuasca churches, shamanic ceremonies or therapeutic contexts.
We will track the participants over a 3-year period, in which we will assess personality, psychopathology and quality of life before drinking and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years after their first session.
Expected benefits of the study
- Progress in the scientific understanding of the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, as well as the psychopathological risks associated with their use
- Gain knowledge that can help improve the preselection of people that want to drink ayahuasca.
- Understanding the reasons why ayahuasca drinkers interrupt their use, as well as the perceived benefits.
For contact, collaboration and further information please refer to the original link here.