Psychotic symptoms and ayahuasca: a case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2236-918X-6-2-5Keywords:
Banisteriopsis, N, N-dimetiltriptamine, psychotic disordersAbstract
Hallucinogens are chemical agents that induce changes in perception, thinking, and emotions. One natural hallucinogen is ayahuasca, originally used in the Amazon by indigenous tribes, prepared as a mixture of two plants: Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains beta-carbolines, an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO), and Psychotria viridis, rich in N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which actson serotonergic receptors. Currently, the use of ayahuasca tea has spread to different regions of the world, and some religions, such as Brazilian denominations União do Vegetal, Santo Daime, and Barquinha, use the tea in their rituals. This study reports on a case of psychotic symptoms and ayahuasca use. A young woman was admitted for social isolation, poor self-care, and bizarre delusions starting 3 years ago, with gradual worsening. She was a member of União do Vegetal and made frequent use of ayahuasca. During hospitalization, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and improved after electroconvulsive
therapy. Recent research shows that clinical manifestations of hallucinogens resemble those of schizophrenia. Therefore, pharmacological experiments with hallucinogens are often used as models of psychosis.
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