Helle Kaasik, helle.kaasik@ut.ee
Objectives: The study aimed to describe
psychology of ayahuasca users in Estonia. Their lifestyle, motivation for
ayahuasca use, use-related activities and experiences, also subjective
consequences of use were described. Indicators of personality, life quality and
mental health of users were compared to those of non-users. Safety of use and
attitudes of users about societal regulation of ayahuasca use were studied.
Method: 30 ayahuasca users (15 female) and
30 matched non-users completed questionnaires, tests of personality
(EE.PIP-NEO, SNAP-2) and mental health (EEK-2, MoCA,
Raven Standard Matrices and MINI neuropsychiatric interview). Textual answers
were summarized by topics. Test scores were statistically analyzed.
Results: Ayahuasca use in Estonia occurred
mainly in group ceremonies under guidance of experienced facilitators. Main
motives for ayahuasca use were spiritual development, self-knowledge and
spiritual experiences. No deterioration of mental or physical health of
ayahuasca users in comparison to non-users was found. No abuse of ayahuasca or
addiction to it was found. Screening test indicators of depression and anxiety
were lower in ayahuasca-using group. Life satisfaction and happiness about life
were higher in the ayahuasca using group. Personality of ayahuasca users was
characterized by moderately lower neuroticism, higher
openness and higher agreeability compared to test norms. Ayahuasca-using group
had higher indicator of impulsivity and lower indicators of aggressiveness and
propriety. Users see their use of ayahuasca as a serious and challenging
spiritual practice that has mostly good influences on their mental health,
social adjustment and personal development. Ceremonies were conducted in
reasonably safe settings and users were aware of safety rules. Most users were
dissatisfied with illegal status of ayahuasca, they
preferred substantiated regulation of it.
Conclusions: No deterioration of mental health
or quality of life in ayahuasca users was found. Differences found in their
personality were moderate and benign. Users described their ayahuasca use as a
serious spiritual practice that is mostly beneficial to their health and life.
Keywords: ayahuasca, psychedelics, ceremony,
mental health, altered states of consciousness, personality, quality
of life.
Website of the study (mostly in Estonian): http://kodu.ut.ee/~hellex/aya/
Full
text of the thesis (in Estonian, summary in English)
Slides
from the defense (in Estonian)
You can support my ongoing study of ayahuasca by bank
transfer to: Helle Kaasik, account
number EE831010102003538001 in SEB bank (BIC/SWIFT: EEUHEE2X, bank address: Tornimäe 2, Tallinn, Estonia). All donations are by default confidential; if an acknowledgement
on my webpage is OK for you,
please send me e-mail about it to
helle.kaasik@ut.ee
or write it into the
explanation of the transfer.