As perhaps the most potent psychedelic substance in existence, ayahuasca has been receiving a great deal of attention lately. This hallucinogenic brew from the Amazon region is causing significant controversy among users, experts, and scientists alike. In the medical world, researchers are primarily interested in the drink’s potential therapeutic applications. We previously reported on how some studies suggest that ayahuasca could be effective in combating symptoms of depression, but new research also sheds light on its potential applications in preventing suicide.
Read also: 5 things you need to know before an ayahuasca trip
Mysterious brew
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew that has been used for centuries by indigenous Amazonian tribes, contains the powerful psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT). This extremely psychedelic substance is combined with a so-called MAO inhibitor in the form of the plant Banisteriopsis Caapi, also commonly known as Ayahuasca. The two substances have been combined for many years for therapeutic purposes, as well as to alleviate mental health issues and physical ailments. More and more people believe in the unique effects of the drink—so it’s not surprising that it’s also receiving increasing attention in the medical world.
“Suicide is one of the leading causes of death, accounting for nearly 1 million deaths per year,” said study author Richard Zeifman, a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Ryerson University. The study will be published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. “Current interventions for suicidality have significant limitations, which means there is a need to develop and identify new interventions for suicidality. Given this need, as well as research showing that ayahuasca is promising as an intervention for various mental health issues (such as depression), we were interested in investigating whether the positive therapeutic effects of ayahuasca extended to suicidality,” the researcher continues.
Read also: What is the difference between ayahuasca and anahuasca?
Antidepressant effects
The researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized placebo-controlled study, which was published in 2019 in Psychological Medicine. This study provided preliminary evidence that the psychedelic brew had rapid antidepressant effects. "When administered in the right context, and with the right preparation, the psychoactive brew ayahuasca may be promising as an intervention for suicidality," Zeifman told PsyPost, an American website providing more information on everything related to psychology.
For the study, 29 participants with treatment-resistant depression and no history of psychotic disorders were randomly assigned to a single treatment session, in which they received either ayahuasca or a placebo. None of the participants had prior experience with psychedelics. A trained psychiatrist assessed the level of suicidality before the treatment session, as well as 1 day, 2 days, and 7 days afterward. Zeifman and his colleagues found that ayahuasca had a moderate to large effect on suicidality, but this effect was not statistically significant. In other words, it is possible that ayahuasca does not lead to a reduction in suicidality.
Read also: The Potential Safety and Health Risks of Ayahuasca
More research needed
At the same time, it cannot be concluded that ayahuasca does not lead to a reduction in suicide. It is also possible that ayahuasca reduces suicidality, but the study could not achieve statistical significance because there were not enough participants. The degree of effect suggests that the topic warrants further consideration, the researchers believe. “Our study is characterized by a number of important limitations, including a small sample size, exclusion of individuals who were acutely suicidal, and short-term follow-up (i.e., 7 days after administration). Ultimately, it will be important for future research to use larger samples, as well as to assess the safety and effectiveness of ayahuasca as an intervention for individuals with acute suicidal tendencies,” says the researcher.
“These findings help expand on previous research into the potential therapeutic benefits of ayahuasca. However, our findings are preliminary and suggest that there is a significant need for additional research into the potential therapeutic benefits of ayahuasca,” concludes Zeifman. As far as we’re concerned, such research can’t come soon enough. The more attention and clarity regarding psychedelics, the better!
