Dados do Trabalho

Título

Phenomenological Analysis of the Subjective Effects Induced by Ayahuasca: a Qualitative Study in all Brazilian Regions

Introdução

Ayahuasca is a potent psychedelic brew, a product of the decoction of the plants Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi, used in spiritual and for healing purpose in contexts of ethnomedicine. This brew is found in the shamanism of indigenous Amazonian tribes and in urban syncretic religions in Brazil, and its effects are still poorly studied. Recently, its therapeutic effect for treatment-resistant depression has been shown, potent agonism at 5-HT2A receptors is believed to be linked, as well as by modulating DMN (default mode network), a resting state network in the brain, responsible for the maintenance of the Self as the "maestro of experience" and support for metacognitive thinking.

Objetivo

This article addresses the mapping of a phenomenology of mental states and bodily experiences induced by ayahuasca. Descriptions of these phenomena can be useful for theorizing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Método

From a qualitative methodology, a semi-structured interview was applied to 13 ayahuasca drinkers, residents of all regions of Brazil, with a detailed description of their subjective psychedelic experiences, which include physical, psychic and spiritual effects.

Resultados

Participants reported changes in the sensory perceptions, in the experience of the Self ("ego") and in the access and edition of memories, increase in positive humor, mystical-religious experiences, transcendence, and symbolic restructuring.

Conclusão

Observations of visionary experiences (i.e., "mirações"), one of the typical and central effects of the brew, do not present enough elements to be characterized as visual hallucinations, according to the terms of descriptive psychopathology, and have significant relevance for participants in therapeutic and educational meanings. These finding support a possible terminological and conceptual reconfiguration of certain phenomena considered pathological by Western medicine (e.g., change the class of hallucinogenic drugs to psychedelic drugs ). It is noteworthy that ayahuasca can play an important role in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, as a result of its dramatic effect of ego dissolution and under defense mechanisms, symbolic restructuring and broke rigid thought patterns, as well as access to content previously blinded to analytical consciousness, as we observe in this cartography of the effects of ayahuasca. Also, were identified patterns of change in the subjective effects according to drinker's time of use, which is not yet published in the literature.

Palavras-chave

Ayahuasca, Phenomenology, Psychedelic Psychiatry.