The DOI matches its Crossref record; 58 of the 58 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Exploring the therapeutic potential of Ayahuasca: acute intake increases mindfulness-related capacities
Abstract
Background Ayahuasca is a psychotropic plant tea used for ritual purposes by the indigenous populations of the Amazon. In the last two decades, its use has expanded worldwide. The tea contains the psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), plus β-carboline alkaloids with monoamine-oxidase-inhibiting properties. Acute administration induces an introspective dream-like experience characterized by visions and autobiographic and emotional memories. Studies of long-term users have suggested its therapeutic potential, reporting that its use has helped individuals abandon the consumption of addictive drugs. Furthermore, recent open-label studies in patients with treatment-resistant depression found that a single ayahuasca dose induced a rapid antidepressant effect that was maintained weeks after administration. Here, we conducted an exploratory study of the psychological mechanisms that could underlie the beneficial effects of ayahuasca.Methods We assessed a group of 25 individuals before and 24 h after an ayahuasca session using two instruments designed to measure mindfulness capacities: The Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ).Results Ayahuasca intake led to significant increases in two facets of the FFMQ indicating a reduction in judgmental processing of experiences and in inner reactivity. It also led to a significant increase in decentering ability as measured by the EQ. These changes are classic goals of conventional mindfulness training, and the scores obtained are in the range of those observed after extensive mindfulness practice.Conclusions The present findings support the claim that ayahuasca has therapeutic potential and suggest that this potential is due to an increase in mindfulness capacities.
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“Decentering has been found to be dispositionally higher in ayahuasca users (Franquesa et al., 2018) and shows evidence of being elevated 24 h post-ayahuasca (Murphy-Beiner and Soar, 2020; Soler et al., 2016).”
From Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca (2022) · cites this paper as Soler et al., 2016
In the citing paper
“bolstered by the finding that acute ayahuasca intoxication increases mindfulness-related capacities (Soler et al. 2016).”
From Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience (2017) · cites this paper as Soler et al. 2016
In the citing paper
“Moreover, psychedelics have been found to increase trait mindfulness, and the skills of nonjudgement, compassion and non-reactivity [56, 57].”
From Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities (2023) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“as macrodoses have been associated with increased mindfulness (Madsen et al. 2020;Soler et al. 2016;Uthaug et al. 2019)”
From Psychedelic Microdosing, Mindfulness, and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Study (2023) · cites this paper as Soler et al. 2016
In the citing paper
“Recent studies have also demonstrated the capacity of various psychedelics to enhance trait mindfulness post-acutely, even in the absence of a theoretical or practical context of mindfulness training, evidencing a complementary relationship between mindfulness-training and psychedelics (40, 52, 56–59).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“Spontaneous enhancements in trait mindfulness have also been reported following the administration of various psychedelics, even outside of a mindfulness-enhancing context (40, 52, 56–59).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“Post-acute enhancements in decentring, referring to the capacity to observe one's inner experiences in a detached manner, similarly to non-attachment, were demonstrated following ayahuasca administration (56, 57).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, enhanced acceptance towards present-moment thoughts and emotions has been observed post-acutely following the administration of ayahuasca and 5-MeO-DMT, which was maintained for up to 1 month (40, 52, 56–59).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“A particularly striking result was that ayahuasca administration led to increases in the MINDSENS composite index (56, 57), which is particularly sensitive to the effects of meditation practise (52, 98).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“The enhanced scores in trait mindfulness achieved in some studies after psychedelic administration (56, 57) were comparable and, in some cases, higher than those reported by a sample of long-term mindfulness meditators (98).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
In the citing paper
“This result is in consonance with the only previous study using a measurement of Decentering where an improvement was found 24 hours after an ayahuasca experience compared with baseline (Soler et al., 2016).”
From Psychological variables implied in the therapeutic effect of ayahuasca: A contextual approach (2018) · cites this paper as Soler et al., 2016
In the citing paper
“Considering the psychological therapeutic benefits, the emphasis is on the induction of an introspective dream-like experience characterized by visions, autobiographic and emotional memories which increase mindfulness capacities (Soler et al., 2015), as well as on the intellectual and spiritual insights gained during the encounters with ayahuasca.”
From The therapeutic potentials of Ayahuasca: possible effects against various diseases of civilization (2016) · cites this paper as Soler et al., 2015
Citations
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“The BNon-judge^ and BNon-react^ subscales are considered to measure acceptance (Baer et al. 2006).”
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Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. V., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., et al. (2004) · Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice · doi:10.1093/clipsy.bph077 · Cited by 7,234
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“Increasing this capacity is the goal of mindfulness interventions (Brown and Ryan 2003; Shapiro et al. 2006; Holzel et al. 2011).”
BackgroundPezawas, L., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Drabant, E. M., Verchinski, B. A., Munoz, K. E., Kolachana, B. S., Egan, M. F., Mattay, V. S., Hariri, A. R., & Weinberger, D. R. (2005) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1463 · Cited by 1,980
Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence
Teasdale, J. D., Moore, R. G., Hayhurst, H., Pope, M., Williams, S., & Segal, Z. V. (2002) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.70.2.275 · Cited by 1,221
Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer
Grob, C. S., Danforth, A. L., Chopra, G. S., Hagerty, M., McKay, C. R., Halberstadt, A. L., & Greer, G. R. (2011) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.116 · Cited by 1,206
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Palhano-Fontes, F., Barreto, D., Onias, H., Andrade, K. C., Novaes, M. M., Pessoa, J. A., Mota-Rolim, S. A., Osório, F. L., Sanches, R., dos Santos, R. G., et al. (2019) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291718001356 · Cited by 852
Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness
Millière, R., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Trautwein, F.-M., & Berkovich-Ohana, A. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475 · Cited by 390
Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience
Letheby, C., & Gerrans, P. (2017) · Neuroscience of Consciousness · doi:10.1093/nc/nix016 · Cited by 293
“The connection with findings about PCC deactivation in ‘effortless awareness’ meditation is obvious, and bolstered by the finding that acute ayahuasca intoxication increases mindfulness-related capacities (Soler et al. 2016).”
BackgroundInfluentialReviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD
Krediet, E., Bostoen, T., Breeksema, J., van Schagen, A., Passie, T., & Vermetten, E. (2020) · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyaa018 · Cited by 260
Smigielski, L., Scheidegger, M., Kometer, M., & Vollenweider, F. X. (2019) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.009 · Cited by 248
Metadata
- Authors
- Soler, J., Elices, M., Franquesa, A., Barker, S., Friedlander, P., Feilding, A., Pascual, J. C., & Riba, J.
- Affiliations
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- Louisiana State University (US)
- Beckley Foundation (GB)
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2015-11-27
- Volume
- 233
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 823-829
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W2173679640
- Cited by
- 209
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 10
- FWCI
- 16.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- ayahuasca, mindfulness, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-HT2A receptor agonists, β-carbolines, decentering, psychedelic therapy, treatment-resistant depression
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Carbolines, Female, Humans, Judgment, Male, Middle Aged, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, Plant Extracts, Surveys and Questionnaires, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Banisteriopsis, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Mindfulness
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