Ayahuasca Treatment Outcome Project (ATOP): One Year Results from Takiwasi Center and Implications for Psychedelic Science

A small study examined the outcomes of ayahuasca, one year after an ayahuasca-assisted program for addiction rehabilitationa.This naturalistic study (n=52) assessed the one-year post-treatment outcomes of the Takiwasi Centre’s ayahuasca-assisted program for addiction rehabilitation in Peru. Using various validated instruments, results showed significant group improvements from baseline to one-year follow-up in alcohol and drug use severity, depression, anxiety, and some quality of life dimensions. While there was individual variation in outcomes and treatment duration, most participants deemed all program aspects, especially the spiritual and therapeutic significance of the ayahuasca experience, as very important. 

Abstract of Ayahuasca Treatment Outcome Project (ATOP)

“Objective: This paper focuses on the outcomes at one-year post-treatment of a naturalistic evaluation of services provided through the Takiwasi Centre, an accredited Peruvian therapeutic community offering an ayahuasca-assisted, integrative treatment program for addiction rehabilitation.

Methods: Participants (n=52) completed structured interviews and a battery of validated instruments. Outcome measures included the Addiction Severity Index (V. 5), the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories, the WHOQOL-BREF and the WHOQOL-SRPB. Likert rating scales were used to assess perceived importance and significance of different aspects of the program and overall participant satisfaction.

Results: The group change from baseline to the one-year follow up was significant and in the anticipated direction for alcohol and drug use severity, depression and anxiety, and some dimensions of quality of life. There was considerable individual variation in outcomes and treatment duration. The majority of participants rated all aspects of the program as important, including the spiritual and therapeutic significance of the ayahuasca experience which was rated as very significant.

Conclusion: Based on the positive one-year outcomes, and within the limitations of an uncontrolled observational study design, the findings suggest promise for the effectiveness of the use of ayahuasca in a multifactorial treatment context for individuals with significant treatment histories, high levels of comorbidity and treatment motivation. Results highlight considerable variation in individual experience that merit in-depth qualitative analysis. Implications for ayahuasca-assisted and other psychedelic-assisted treatment alternatives are discussed.”

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