Kava's effect on mood (cheerfulness)
Today we’ll be focusing on a single dose, double-blind and placebo controlled study from 2004 in which the mood of participants were assessed and how kava affected that mood. The study used a measure of “cheerfulness” with a method known as state-trait-cheerfulness inventory. This is a scale in which the participants answered from strongly disagree to strongly agree in a 4 point system. The concepts are considered to assess the temperamental basis of humor and the scales have been validated in a variety of studies [1]. The study used a standardized extract at strength of 90mg. The study has shown the participants indicated a marked increase in mood with little effect on bringing out a bad mood or overly serious temperament [2]. The study did however find that kava was the most positive experience for those that generally considered themselves positive. Good moods tend to amplify with kava. In this study the researchers also found this amount had a beneficial effect on visual attention and short-term memory, quite unlike traditional anxiolytics. It’s important to keep in mind that these amounts (90mg) are miniscule in comparison to the varying amounts that are taken in during a kava session. Even one “shell” of kava, for that matter, may see more than 90mg of kavalactones. These studies are important because they show the efficacy of kava even at smaller dosages.
[1] State-trait-cheerfulness inventory. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18, 2021, from https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/resources/questionnaires-researchers/state-trait-cheerfulness-inventory
[2] Thompson R, Ruch W, Hasenöhrl RU. Enhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava). Hum Psychopharmacol. 2004 Jun;19(4):243-50. doi: 10.1002/hup.581. PMID: 15181652.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Today we’ll be focusing on a single dose, double-blind and placebo controlled study from 2004 in which the mood of participants were assessed and how kava affected that mood. The study used a measure of “cheerfulness” with a method known as state-trait-cheerfulness inventory. This is a scale in which the participants answered from strongly disagree to strongly agree in a 4 point system. The concepts are considered to assess the temperamental basis of humor and the scales have been validated in a variety of studies [1]. The study used a standardized extract at strength of 90mg. The study has shown the participants indicated a marked increase in mood with little effect on bringing out a bad mood or overly serious temperament [2]. The study did however find that kava was the most positive experience for those that generally considered themselves positive. Good moods tend to amplify with kava. In this study the researchers also found this amount had a beneficial effect on visual attention and short-term memory, quite unlike traditional anxiolytics. It’s important to keep in mind that these amounts (90mg) are miniscule in comparison to the varying amounts that are taken in during a kava session. Even one “shell” of kava, for that matter, may see more than 90mg of kavalactones. These studies are important because they show the efficacy of kava even at smaller dosages.
[1] State-trait-cheerfulness inventory. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18, 2021, from https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/resources/questionnaires-researchers/state-trait-cheerfulness-inventory
[2] Thompson R, Ruch W, Hasenöhrl RU. Enhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava). Hum Psychopharmacol. 2004 Jun;19(4):243-50. doi: 10.1002/hup.581. PMID: 15181652.
Enhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava) - PubMed
The acute effects of the herbal anxiolytic Kava-kava (Piper methysticum G. Forster) on emotional reactivity and cognitive performance were investigated in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial involving healthy volunteers. Subjects' reports of mood change were assessed with the...