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ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
Ayahuasca improves emotion dysregulation in a community sample
and in individuals with borderline-like traits
Elisabet Domínguez-Clavé
1,2,3
&Joaquim Soler
1,3,4
&Juan C. Pascual
1,3,4
&Matilde Elices
1,3
&Alba Franquesa
1
&
Marta Valle
2,3,5
&Enric Alvarez
1,4
&Jordi Riba
3,6,7
Received: 19 June 2018 / Accepted: 16 October 2018 / Published online: 7 November 2018
#Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract
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 individ-
uals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits.
Method This is an observational study of 45 volunteers who participated in an ayahuasca session. The volunteers com-
pleted 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,andnon-reacting and also significantly improved on decentering (EQ scale) and on the DERS
subscales emotional non-acceptance,emotional interference,andlack 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.
Keywords Ayahu asca .Emotional dysregulation .Mindfulness .Borderline personality disorder
*Joaquim Soler
jsolerri@santpau.cat
*Jordi Riba
jordi.riba@maastrichtuniversity.nl
1
Servei de Psiquiatria, Hospital dela Santa Creu i Sant PauInstitut de
Recerca, Barcelona, Spain
2
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Universitat
Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
3
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental,
CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
Psychopharmacology (2019) 236:573–580
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5085-3
4
Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
5
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modelling and Simulation,
Sant Pau Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau),
Barcelona, Spain
6
Human Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Sant Pau Institute of
Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
7
Present address: Department of Neuropsychology and
Psychopharmacology, Masstricht University,
Maastricht, The Netherlands
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