Ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy for grief: a non-randomized clinical trial protocol
Por:
Sabucedo P, Andión O, Neimeyer RA, Soto-Angona O, Javkin J, Haro JM, Farré M and González D
Publicada:
7 ene 2025
Ahead of Print:
7 ene 2025
Resumen:
Background Psychotherapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), a condition characterized by an intense and persistent grief response, has received increased attention over the past decades. Evidence-based approaches to prevent PGD are currently scarce, and not always effective. This paper introduces a protocol for a clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of a Meaning Reconstruction psychotherapy approach (MR) assisted with ayahuasca, a traditional indigenous medicine. Method The outlined protocol is a three-arm, non-randomized controlled trial focused on reducing normal and pathological grief symptoms, comparing the effectiveness of Ayahuasca-assisted MR therapy (A-MR), MR therapy alone (MR) and No Treatment (NT). At least 69 people who lost a first-degree relative during the prior year, and with a Texas Revised Inventory of Grief score up 39 (TRIG >= 40), will participate in the trial. Participants will be allocated to an A-MR (n >= 23), MR (n >= 23) or NT (n >= 23) group. Those from the A-MR and MR therapy groups will undergo a therapeutic process involving 9 sessions of online psychotherapy. In addition, the A-MR condition involves 2 group sessions of ayahuasca. The primary outcomes will be normal and pathological grief severity as measured by the TRIG and Traumatic Grief Inventory Self-Report (TGI-SR), administered at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow up. Measures of quality of life, post-traumatic growth, meaning-made, psychological flexibility, and self-belief consistency will be also included. In addition, subjective effects of ayahuasca and acceptance-avoidance promoting effects will be assessed following ayahuasca administration. Finally, we will analyze the potential mediating effect of meaning-made, psychological flexibility and self-belief consistency in grief symptoms (as measured by the TRIG and TGI). Discussion This trial is the first to empirically examinate the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for grief, as well as the potential processes of change that may account for it. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT06150859.
Filiaciones:
Sabucedo P:
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicodélica (SEMPsi), Barcelona, Spain
Andión O:
Research Sherpas, Girona, Spain
Neimeyer RA:
Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, Portland, OR, United States
Soto-Angona O:
Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicodélica (SEMPsi), Barcelona, Spain
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Barcelona, Spain
Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
Javkin J:
Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicodélica (SEMPsi), Barcelona, Spain
Kiyumi Collective, Hoosfdorp, Netherlands
Heart & Brain Training, Nijmegen, Netherlands
PHI Association, Barcelona, Spain
Haro JM:
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Barcelona, Spain
Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health Network, (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
Farré M:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol-IGTP, Badalona, Spain
Departament of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
González D:
Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicodélica (SEMPsi), Barcelona, Spain
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Barcelona, Spain
PHI Association, Barcelona, Spain
Faculty of Health Sciences, Isabel I University, Burgos, Spain
Green Submitted, gold
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