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Cited by 125Psychedelics and Drug StudiesAlkaloids: synthesis and pharmacologySynthesis and bioactivity of alkaloids

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 122 of the 122 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The current state of research on ayahuasca: A systematic review of human studies assessing psychiatric symptoms, neuropsychological functioning, and neuroimaging

dos Santos, Rafael G, Balthazar, Fermanda M, Bouso, José C, Hallak, Jaime EC·2016·Journal of Psychopharmacology
DOI 10.1177/0269881116652578
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Abstract

RATIONALE: In recent decades, the use of ayahuasca (AYA) - a β-carboline- and dimethyltryptamine-rich hallucinogenic botanical preparation traditionally used by Northwestern Amazonian tribes for ritual and therapeutic purposes - has spread from South America to Europe and the USA, raising concerns about its possible toxicity and hopes of its therapeutic potential. Thus, it is important to analyze the acute, subacute, and long-term effects of AYA to assess its safety and toxicity. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of human studies assessing AYA effects on psychiatric symptoms, neuropsychological functioning, and neuroimaging. METHODS: Papers published until 16 December 2015 were included from PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases following a comprehensive search strategy and pre-determined set of criteria for article selection. RESULTS: The review included 28 full-text articles. Acute AYA administration was well tolerated, increased introspection and positive mood, altered visual perceptions, activated frontal and paralimbic regions and decreased default mode network activity. It also improved planning and inhibitory control and impaired working memory, and showed antidepressive and antiaddictive potentials. Long-term AYA use was associated with increased cortical thickness of the anterior cingulate cortex and cortical thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex, which was inversely correlated to age of onset, intensity of prior AYA use, and spirituality. Subacute and long-term AYA use was not associated with increased psychopathology or cognitive deficits, being associated with enhanced mood and cognition, increased spirituality, and reduced impulsivity. CONCLUSIONS: Acute, subacute, and long-term AYA use seems to have low toxicity. Preliminary studies about potential therapeutic effects of AYA need replication due to their methodological limitations.

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. Bouso JC, 2011, The Ethnopharmacology of Ayahuasca, 55
  2. Damásio A, 2000, O mistério da consciência – do corpo e das emoções ao conhecimento de si
  3. Dos Santos RG, 2011, The Ethnopharmacology of Ayahuasca, 87
  4. Dos Santos RG, Strassman RJ (2008) Ayahuasca and psychosis. Br J Psychiatry (eLetter), 3 December. Available at: http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/190/1/81.2.e-letters#ayahuasca-and-psychosis (accessed 13 December 2015).
  5. Frecska E, 2008, Neuropsychopharmacol Hung, 10, 103
  6. Frecska E, 2006, Neuropsychopharmacol Hung, 8, 189
  7. Groisman A, 2000, Santo Daime in the Netherlands: An anthropological study of a new world religion in a European setting
  8. Halpern JH, 2008, Med Sci Monit, 14, SR15
  9. Labate BC, 2009, Ayahuasca Religions: A Comprehensive Bibliography and Critical Essays
  10. Riba J, 2002, Br J Clin Psychol, 53, 613
  11. Smart RG, 1967, Can Med Assoc J, 97, 1214

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Metadata

Authors
dos Santos, R. G., Balthazar, F. M., Bouso, J. C., & Hallak, J. E.
Affiliations
  • Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
  • Federal Institute of São Paulo (BR)
  • International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ES)
  • Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2016-07-10
Volume
30
Issue
12
Pages
1230-1247
ISSN
  • 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7285
DOI
10.1177/0269881116652578
OpenAlex
W2413873059
Cited by
125
References
122
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10
FWCI
1.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Synthesis and bioactivity of alkaloids
Keywords
ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, β-carbolines, hallucinogens, psychiatric symptoms, neuropsychological performance, neuroimaging, default mode network, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, cortical thickness, impulsivity, spirituality, antidepressant effects, drug safety and toxicity
MeSH terms
Animals, Antidepressive Agents, Mental Disorders, Hallucinogens, Humans, Banisteriopsis, Neuroimaging

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