Consume context of Ayahuasca, mystical experiences and challeging experiences

• Grant number: 21/04683-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2022
• End date: June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Clarissa Mendonca Corradi Webster
• Grantee: Alicia Raquel Osuna Delgado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Clinical research involving psychedelics has gained importance due to its possible therapeutic effect on psychiatric disorders. Studies indicate a possible correlation between the occurrence of mystical experiences during psychedelics ingestion and their therapeutic effects and show the importance of a controlled context for a safe experience. In Brazil, the ritualistic use of psychedelic substances occurs mainly from Ayahuasca tea, where the emphasis on environmental factors can be observed through the use of elements to guide the experience. This study aimed to assess how the context of Ayahuasca consumption correlates with the experience of mystical experiences and the presence of challenging experiences. A quantitative, descriptive-exploratory, cross-sectional study will be carried out. Participants come from Ayahuasca groups from Brazil and the Netherlands, whose inclusion criteria were: legal age and having consumed Ayahuasca for at least 30 days. The instruments used were: 1) Mystical Experience Questionnaire - MEQ 30, to describe mystical experiences; 2) Challenging Experience Questionnaire - CEQ, to describe challenging experiences, and 3) Setting Questionnaire for the Ayahuasca Experience - SQAE, to describe the variables of Ayahuasca's ritualistic context of consumption. Descriptive and inferential analyzes of the data will be conducted.(AU)