RESUMEN
Objectives: Ayahuasca (AYA), a natural psychedelic brew prepared from Amazonian plants and rich in dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmine, causes effects of subjective well-being and may therefore have antidepressant actions. This study sought to evaluate the effects of a single dose of AYA in six volunteers with a current depressive episode. Methods: Open-label trial conducted in an inpatient psychiatric unit. Results: Statistically significant reductions of up to 82% in depressive scores were observed between baseline and 1, 7, and 21 days after AYA administration, as measured on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the Anxious-Depression subscale of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). AYA administration resulted in nonsignificant changes in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores and in the thinking disorder subscale of the BPRS, suggesting that AYA does not induce episodes of mania and/or hypomania in patients with mood disorders and that modifications in thought content, which could indicate psychedelic effects, are not essential for mood improvement. Conclusions: These results suggest that AYA has fast-acting anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in patients with a depressive disorder. .
Asunto(s)
Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Antidepresivos/uso terapéutico , Banisteriopsis/química , Trastorno Depresivo/tratamiento farmacológico , Alucinógenos/uso terapéutico , Fitoterapia , Análisis de Varianza , Ansiolíticos/uso terapéutico , Escalas de Valoración Psiquiátrica Breve , Harmina/uso terapéutico , N,N-Dimetiltriptamina/uso terapéutico , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
El presente texto hace un breve recorrido sobre los usos terapéuticos que han tenido la LSD, MDMA, THC, GHB, DMT, Psilocybina y Mescalina en la historia, así como también refiere algunos de los beneficios para la salud física y mental que se considera tienen en la actualidad. Esta información científica se contrapone a la normativa internacional en materia de drogas, que las clasifica como sustancias prohibidas en la Lista I, debido a su falta de uso médico aceptado por Estados Unidos y a su alto potencial de abuso. En este trayecto también se intenta comprender a qué hace referencia dicho potencial, así como las motivaciones que podrían existir detrás de la prohibición del uso terapéutico de estas drogas. En este marco, se consideran consecuencias para la salud de la población, las que atentan contra los Derechos Humanos de las personas que podrían requerir alguna de estas sustancias.
This paper makes a brief of the therapeutic uses have had the LSD, MDMA, THC, GHB, DMT, Psilocybin and Mescaline in history, as well as some of the benefits referred to physical and mental health that are considered today. This scientific information seems contrary to international legislation on drugs, which classifies as prohibited substances in Schedule I, due to its lack of acceptance medical use by the United States and its high potential for abuse. In this way also try to understand what makes this potential reference, and the reasons that could be behind the ban on therapeutic use of these drugs. In this framework, we consider health consequences of the population, which violate the human rights of people who may require some of these substances.