Ayahuasca for PTSD

Efficacy and Safety of the Neuroplastogen TSND-201 for the Treatment of PTSD A Randomized Clinical Trial

In a multicentre, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled phase 2 trial of 65 adults with chronic PTSD, once‑weekly oral TSND‑201 produced significantly greater reductions in clinician‑rated PTSD severity (CAPS‑5; LS mean difference 9.64, P = .01) and improvements in self‑reported symptoms, functioning and depression versus placebo. TSND‑201 was generally well tolerated — common adverse events included headache, decreased appetite, nausea, dizziness and transient blood‑pressure increases — supporting its potential as a rapid‑acting, durable treatment for PTSD.

Published: February 18, 2026
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry
Authors: Jones, A., Warner-Schmidt, J., Kwak, H., Stogniew, M., Mandell, B., Ching, T. H., Stein, M. B., Kelmendi, B.

Open Accessindividual

Meditation, psychedelics, and brain connectivity: A randomized controlled resting-state fMRI study of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine in a meditation retreat

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled resting-state fMRI study of 40 meditation practitioners, buccal DMT–harmine increased functional connectivity within the visual network and between visual and attention/salience networks, whereas meditation with placebo produced greater network segregation. No prolonged disruption of cortical gradients was observed, indicating a return to typical brain organisation shortly after the experience and pointing to distinct neural mechanisms — and potential clinical complementarities — between meditation and psychedelic-augmented meditation.

Published: September 29, 2025
Journal: Imaging Neuroscience
Authors: Egger, K., Meling, D., Polat, F., Seifritz, E., Avram, M., Scheidegger, M.

Open Accessindividual

Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics Administered to Military Veterans in Naturalistic Retreat Settings

Veterans attending naturalistic psilocybin or ayahuasca retreats showed significant improvements across eight mental‑health and reintegration measures, with the largest reductions in depression (PHQ‑9, 29.1%) and PTSD (PCL‑5, 26.1%). Psilocybin retreats produced greater gains on most outcomes while ayahuasca yielded slightly larger PTSD improvement; those with worse baseline symptoms benefited most, with some gender-specific differences.

Published: July 7, 2025
Journal: Brain and Behavior
Authors: Calnan, M., Blest-Hopley, G., Busch, C., Adams, M., Ruffell, S. G. D., Piper, T., Roseman, L., Kettner, H., Carhart-Harris, R.

Paywallmeta

Quality of reporting on psychological interventions in psychedelic treatments: a systematic review

This systematic review (s=45) on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for mental disorders finds that psychological interventions are reported with low completeness and high heterogeneity. It also finds that MDMA studies are more homogeneous, with greater procedural detail.

Published: December 9, 2024
Journal: Lancet
Authors: Seybert, C., Schimmers, N., Silva, L., Breeksema, J. J., Veraart, J. K. E., Bessa, B. S., d'Orsi, D., Schoevers, R. A., Dinis-Oliveira, R. J.

Open Accessindividual

Ayahuasca in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Mixed-methods case series evaluation in military combat veterans

This mixed-methods case series study (n=8) investigated the impact of a 3-day ayahuasca intervention on military veterans with PTSD. Results indicate that 87.5% of participants demonstrated clinically significant improvements in PTSD symptoms post-treatment, with 70% maintaining these changes at a 3-month follow-up. Veterans also reported significant improvements in momentary PTSD symptoms and daily life affect, citing deep positive emotions, decentering/acceptance, and purpose in life as perceived benefits.

Published: December 1, 2024
Journal: Psychological Trauma
Authors: Weiss, B., Dinh-Williams, L. A. L., Beller, N., Raugh, I. M., Strauss, G. P., Campbell, W. K.

Paywallindividual

Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in College Students With Harmful Alcohol Use: A Single-blind, Feasibility, Proof-of-Concept Trial

In a single-blind proof-of-concept trial in 11 college students with harmful alcohol use, one dose of ayahuasca with psychological support was well tolerated and produced a short-term reduction in days drinking at 2–3 weeks that did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. The study demonstrates feasibility of the protocol and supports larger, controlled trials to assess efficacy.

Published: June 3, 2024
Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Authors: Rodrigues, L. S., Rossi, G. N., Guerra, L. T. L., Maekawa, R. M., de Lima Osório, F., Bouso, J. C., Dos Santos, R. G., Santos, F. P., Paranhos, B. A. P. B., Yonamine, M., Hallak, J. E.

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Academic Research

Efficacy and Safety of the Neuroplastogen TSND-201 for the Treatment of PTSD A Randomized Clinical Trial

Meditation, psychedelics, and brain connectivity: A randomized controlled resting-state fMRI study of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine in a meditation retreat

Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics Administered to Military Veterans in Naturalistic Retreat Settings

Quality of reporting on psychological interventions in psychedelic treatments: a systematic review

Ayahuasca in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Mixed-methods case series evaluation in military combat veterans

Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in College Students With Harmful Alcohol Use: A Single-blind, Feasibility, Proof-of-Concept Trial

Clinical Trials

Ayahuasca, Esketamine and PTSD

Open-Label Dose-Ranging Study of Oral SM-001 in Healthy Adults

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