ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazon brew and its potential antidepressant properties have recently been explored in scientific settings. We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of ayahuasca with treatment-resistant depression patients (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 45). AIMS: We are evaluating the blood inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein and interleukin 6, as a potential consequence of ayahuasca intake and their correlation with serum cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Blood samples were collected at pre-treatment and 48 hours after substance ingestion to assess the concentration of inflammatory biomarkers, together with administration of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: At pre-treatment, patients showed higher C-reactive protein levels than healthy controls and a significant negative correlation between C-reactive protein and serum cortisol levels was revealed (rho = -0.40, n = 14). C-reactive protein in those patients was not correlated with Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores. We observed a significant reduction of C-reactive protein levels across time in both patients and controls treated with ayahuasca, but not with placebo. Patients treated with ayahuasca showed a significant correlation (rho = + 0.57) between larger reductions of C-reactive protein and lower depressive symptoms at 48 hours after substance ingestion (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale). No significant result with respect to interleukin 6 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor was found. Furthermore, these biomarkers did not predict the antidepressant response or remission rates observed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings enhance the understanding of the biological mechanisms behind the observed antidepressant effects of ayahuasca and encourage further clinical trials in adults with depression.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/administration & dosage , Banisteriopsis/chemistry , Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant/drug therapy , Plant Preparations/administration & dosage , Adult , Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology , Biomarkers/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy , Depressive Disorder, Major/physiopathology , Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant/physiopathology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Inflammation/drug therapy , Inflammation/pathology , Male , Plant Preparations/pharmacology , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
El objetivo que se propone en el presente informe es probar la hipótesis teórica de que el tiempo de atención sostenida en los estudiantes en el salón de clase puede ser medida por la respuesta autonómica de la VFC. 10 sujetos participaron del experimento. La VFC fue observada por medio del análisis de series temporales en segmentos de cinco (5) minutos hasta completar la ventana de observación para medias móviles simples de 60 minutos. Se analizaron las series RR en los dominios de tiempo, de frecuencia e índices no lineares.
The objective proposed in this report is to test the theoretical hypothesis that the time of attention sustained by students in the classroom can be measured by the autonomic response of the VFC. 10 subjects participated in the experiment. HRV was observed by means of the analysis of time series in segments of five (5) minutes until completing the observation window for simple moving averages of 60 minutes. The RR series were analyzed in the time, frequency and non-linear index domains.
