Ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy as an early resource for bereavement: a non-randomized clinical trial.
Por:
Soto-Angona O, Andión O, Sabucedo P, Neimeyer RA, Haro JM, Javkin J, Farré M and González D
Publicada:
1 sep 2025
Ahead of Print:
1 sep 2025
Resumen:
Preliminary evidence suggests that ayahuasca may alleviate severe grief symptoms. This three-arm, sequentially allocated, open-label study examines the therapeutic changes associated with ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy (A-MR) compared to meaning reconstruction therapy alone (MR) and a no-treatment control (NT). A total of 84 adults experiencing severe grief within 12 months of losing a first-degree relative were allocated to A-MR (n = 28), MR (n = 28), or NT (n = 28). Grief severity, prolonged grief disorder symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life were assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and 3 months post-intervention. Ayahuasca was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. All groups showed significant grief severity reduction (A-MR: p < .0001, d = 2.44; MR: p < .0001, d = 1.84; NT: p < .002, d = 0.74). Greater reductions were observed in the A-MR compared to MR (p = .012, d = 0.86) and NT (p = .0008, d = 1.07). A-MR was also associated with significant improvements in prolonged grief symptomatology, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life, with medium-to-large effect sizes. This is the first controlled prospective study to provide preliminary support for A-MR as a safe and potentially effective intervention for severe grief, though replication in larger randomized trials is required.
Filiaciones:
Soto-Angona O:
Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicodélica (SEMPsi), Barcelona, Spain
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Andión O:
Research Sherpas, Girona, Spain
Sabucedo P:
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Neimeyer RA:
Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, Portland, OR, USA
Haro JM:
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
Javkin J:
Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicodélica (SEMPsi), Barcelona, Spain
Kiyumi Collective, Hoosfdorp, Netherlands
Heart & Brain Training, Nijmegen, Netherlands
PHI Association, Barcelona, 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:
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
PHI Association, Barcelona, Spain
Faculty of Health Sciences, Isabel I University, Burgos, Spain
Clinica Synáptica, Barcelona, Spain
Open Access
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