RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew that originated in the Amazon basin. The psychological effects of this drug are becoming better understood due to the growing research interest in identifying new potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of emotion dysregulation and other disorders. Previous studies suggest that ayahuasca enhances mindfulness-related capacities (decentering, non-judging, non-reacting and acceptance) and emotion regulation. The aim of the present exploratory study was to determine the effects of ayahuasca on self-compassion in a community sample. METHODS: We administered validated questionnaires (the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form and Forms of Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance) to evaluate pre-post changes in self-compassion and self-criticism/self-reassurance in 45 volunteers (27 women; 60%) before and after (≤24 h) an ayahuasca ceremony. Most participants (n = 29; 67.4%) had previously used ayahuasca. RESULTS: Ayahuasca resulted in significant improvements, with medium to large effect sizes (η2 = 0.184-0.276), in measures of self-compassion (p < 0.05), self-criticism (p < 0.01) and self-reassurance (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that ayahuasca promotes well-being and self-compassion, which could have a therapeutic effect on individuals with negative affect and other psychopathological conditions. Large, controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Assuntos
Banisteriopsis , Alucinógenos , Atenção Plena , Feminino , Alucinógenos/farmacologia , Alucinógenos/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Autoavaliação (Psicologia) , AutocompaixãoRESUMO
Lipids are highly diverse in their composition, properties and distribution in different biological entities. We aim to establish the lipidomes of several insulin-sensitive tissues and to test their plasticity when divergent feeding regimens and lifestyles are imposed. Here, we report a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) study of lipid abundance across 4 tissues of C57Bl6J male mice that includes the changes in the lipid profile after every lifestyle intervention. Every tissue analysed presented a specific lipid profile irrespective of interventions. Glycerolipids and fatty acids were most abundant in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) followed by liver, whereas sterol lipids and phosphoglycerolipids were highly enriched in hypothalamus, and gastrocnemius had the lowest content in all lipid species compared to the other tissues. Both when subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) and after a subsequent lifestyle intervention (INT), the lipidome of hypothalamus showed no changes. Gastrocnemius and liver revealed a pattern of increase in content in many lipid species after HFD followed by a regression to basal levels after INT, while eWAT lipidome was affected mainly by the fat composition of the administered diets and not their caloric density. Thus, the present study demonstrates a unique lipidome for each tissue modulated by caloric intake and dietary composition.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Lipidômica , Obesidade/dietoterapia , Obesidade/metabolismo , Tecido Adiposo Branco/metabolismo , Animais , Restrição Calórica , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/etiologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/etiologia , Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Estilo de Vida Saudável , Hipotálamo/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Obesidade/complicações , Condicionamento Físico AnimalRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions may improve mindfulness-related capacities (e.g., decentering, non-judging, and non-reacting) and emotion regulation. Previously, our group reported that ayahuasca could be a potential analogue of mindfulness practice. The main aim of the current study was to examine the effects of ayahuasca on emotional regulation and mindfulness-related capacities. Secondarily, we sought to explore the effects of ayahuasca on individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits. METHOD: This is an observational study of 45 volunteers who participated in an ayahuasca session. The volunteers completed various self-report instruments designed to measure emotional dysregulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)) and mindfulness traits (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)-Short Form and Experiences Questionnaire (EQ)) prior to and 24 h after the ayahuasca session. The volunteers were divided into two subgroups based on their score on the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD). Twelve participants were grouped into the BPD-like traits subgroup while the rest of them were included in the non-BPD-like subgroup. We performed within-subjects and between-group analyses. RESULTS: Overall, the participants showed significant improvements on the FFMQ subscales observing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reacting and also significantly improved on decentering (EQ scale) and on the DERS subscales emotional non-acceptance, emotional interference, and lack of control. The BPD-like subgroup also showed significant improvements on the DERS subscales emotional interference and lack of control but not in mindfulness capacities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a potential therapeutic effect for ayahuasca in emotion regulation and mindfulness capacities (including decentering, acceptance, awareness, and sensitivity to meditation practice). Based on these results, we believe that ayahuasca therapy could be of value in clinical populations, such as individuals with BPD, affected by emotion dysregulation.
Assuntos
Banisteriopsis , Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline/psicologia , Emoções/efeitos dos fármacos , Atenção Plena , Preparações de Plantas/farmacologia , Autocontrole/psicologia , Adulto , Conscientização , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Autorrelato , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic decoction originating from Amazonia. The ayahuasca-induced introspective experience has been shown to have potential benefits in the treatment of several pathologies, to protect mental health and to improve neuropsychological functions and creativity, and boost mindfulness. The underlying psychological processes related to the use of ayahuasca in a psychotherapeutic context are not yet well described in the scientific literature, but there is some evidence to suggest that psychological variables described in psychotherapies could be useful in explaining the therapeutic effects of the brew. In this study we explore the link between ayahuasca use and Decentering, Values and Self, comparing subjects without experience of ayahuasca (nâ¯=â¯41) with subjects with experience (nâ¯=â¯81). Results confirm that ayahuasca users scored higher than non-users in Decentering and Positive self, but not in Valued living, Life fulfillment, Self in social relations, Self in close relations and General self. Scores in Decentering were higher in the more experienced subjects (more than 15 occasions) than in those with less experience (less than 15 occasions). Our results show that psychological process variables may explain the outcomes in ayahuasca psychotherapy. The introduction of these variables is warranted in future ayahuasca therapeutic studies.
Assuntos
Banisteriopsis , Transtornos Mentais/tratamento farmacológico , Fitoterapia/métodos , Preparações de Plantas/uso terapêutico , Psicotrópicos/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Criatividade , Feminino , Alucinógenos/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Masculino , Atenção Plena , AutoimagemRESUMO
Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21(-/-) mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine's beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans.
Assuntos
Betaína/farmacologia , Fatores de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/sangue , Glucose/metabolismo , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Adulto , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Suplementos Nutricionais , Fígado Gorduroso/induzido quimicamente , Fígado Gorduroso/tratamento farmacológico , Fígado Gorduroso/genética , Fígado Gorduroso/metabolismo , Feminino , Fatores de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/genética , Intolerância à Glucose/sangue , Intolerância à Glucose/tratamento farmacológico , Homeostase/efeitos dos fármacos , Homeostase/genética , Humanos , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos KnockoutRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ayahuasca is a psychotropic plant tea used for ritual purposes by the indigenous populations of the Amazon. In the last two decades, its use has expanded worldwide. The tea contains the psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), plus ß-carboline alkaloids with monoamine-oxidase-inhibiting properties. Acute administration induces an introspective dream-like experience characterized by visions and autobiographic and emotional memories. Studies of long-term users have suggested its therapeutic potential, reporting that its use has helped individuals abandon the consumption of addictive drugs. Furthermore, recent open-label studies in patients with treatment-resistant depression found that a single ayahuasca dose induced a rapid antidepressant effect that was maintained weeks after administration. Here, we conducted an exploratory study of the psychological mechanisms that could underlie the beneficial effects of ayahuasca. METHODS: We assessed a group of 25 individuals before and 24 h after an ayahuasca session using two instruments designed to measure mindfulness capacities: The Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ). RESULTS: Ayahuasca intake led to significant increases in two facets of the FFMQ indicating a reduction in judgmental processing of experiences and in inner reactivity. It also led to a significant increase in decentering ability as measured by the EQ. These changes are classic goals of conventional mindfulness training, and the scores obtained are in the range of those observed after extensive mindfulness practice. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings support the claim that ayahuasca has therapeutic potential and suggest that this potential is due to an increase in mindfulness capacities.
Assuntos
Banisteriopsis , Atenção Plena , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Adulto , Carbolinas/farmacologia , Feminino , Humanos , Julgamento/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inibidores da Monoaminoxidase/farmacologia , Receptor 5-HT2A de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Agonistas do Receptor de Serotonina/farmacologia , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Decentering is defined as the ability to observe one's thoughts and feelings in a detached manner. The Experiences Questionnaire (EQ) is a self-report instrument that originally assessed decentering and rumination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of EQ-Decentering and to explore its clinical usefulness. The 11-item EQ-Decentering subscale was translated into Spanish and psychometric properties were examined in a sample of 921 adult individuals, 231 with psychiatric disorders and 690 without. The subsample of nonpsychiatric participants was also split according to their previous meditative experience (meditative participants, n=341; and nonmeditative participants, n=349). Additionally, differences among these three subgroups were explored to determine clinical validity of the scale. Finally, EQ-Decentering was administered twice in a group of borderline personality disorder, before and after a 10-week mindfulness intervention. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable model fit, sbχ(2)=243.8836 (p<.001), CFI=.939, GFI=.936, SRMR=.040, and RMSEA=.06 (.060-.077), and psychometric properties were found to be satisfactory (reliability: Cronbach's α=.893; convergent validity: r>.46; and divergent validity: r<-.35). The scale detected changes in decentering after a 10-session intervention in mindfulness (t=-4.692, p<.00001). Differences among groups were significant (F=134.8, p<.000001), where psychiatric participants showed the lowest scores compared to nonpsychiatric meditative and nonmeditative participants. The Spanish version of the EQ-Decentering is a valid and reliable instrument to assess decentering either in clinical and nonclinical samples. In addition, the findings show that EQ-Decentering seems an adequate outcome instrument to detect changes after mindfulness-based interventions.
Assuntos
Psicometria/métodos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Ansiedade/psicologia , Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline/psicologia , Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline/terapia , Análise Fatorial , Feminino , Humanos , Idioma , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/psicologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Atenção Plena , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Autoimagem , Espanha , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Mitofusin 2 (MFN2) plays critical roles in both mitochondrial fusion and the establishment of mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interactions. Hypothalamic ER stress has emerged as a causative factor for the development of leptin resistance, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we show that mitochondria-ER contacts in anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus are decreased in diet-induced obesity. POMC-specific ablation of Mfn2 resulted in loss of mitochondria-ER contacts, defective POMC processing, ER stress-induced leptin resistance, hyperphagia, reduced energy expenditure, and obesity. Pharmacological relieve of hypothalamic ER stress reversed these metabolic alterations. Our data establish MFN2 in POMC neurons as an essential regulator of systemic energy balance by fine-tuning the mitochondrial-ER axis homeostasis and function. This previously unrecognized role for MFN2 argues for a crucial involvement in mediating ER stress-induced leptin resistance.