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Home/Research/Ayahuasca/Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change

Ayahuasca for Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change

19 papers and 0 clinical trials exploring ayahuasca as a treatment for public health, prevention & behaviour change.

Compoundclassic psychedelic

Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a botanical decoction combining DMT with MAO-inhibiting harmala alkaloids, producing intense psychedelic effects lasting 3-6 hours. Clinical trials show rapid, large antidepressant effects from a single dose, with a favourable safety profile in controlled settings.

Full Ayahuasca profile
IndicationApproximately 20% of adults experience a mental health issue in any given year worldwide.

Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change

Current research into psychedelics as a means of public health intervention highlights their potential in addressing various behavioural health conditions. As clinical trials expand, the implications for prevention and behaviour change are becoming increasingly apparent.

Full Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change profile

Academic Research

19 papers
Open Accessindividual

Symmetrical Global Mental Health (Sym-GMH): Ayahuasca and shipibo traditional medicine for lasting changes in personality and quality of life

This prospective longitudinal study (n=264) of Western participants attending Shipibo-led ayahuasca retreats found improvements in quality of life and decentering over 12 months, alongside lower neuroticism and higher extraversion. Most participants reported lasting benefits, and adverse effects were minimal.

Published
May 15, 2026
Journal
Psychedelics
Authors
Bouso, J. C., Andión, Ó., Cantillo, J., Pérez, I., Farré, M., Obiols, J. E., González, D.
Paywallindividual

Rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of vaporized N,N-dimethyltryptamine: a phase 2a clinical trial in treatment-resistant depression

This open-label fixed-order dose-escalation trial (n=14) evaluated inhaled DMT (15mg & 60mg) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) for the first time. Results showed rapid and sustained antidepressant effects with a 21-point reduction on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale by day 7 (p<0.001), an 86% response rate, and a 57% remission rate lasting up to 3 months, with significant decreases in suicidal ideation (SI).

Published
April 22, 2025
Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Authors
Falchi-Carvalho, M., Palhano-Fontes, F., Wießner, I., Barros, H., Bolcont, R., Laborde, S., Silva, S. R. B., Montanini, D., Barbosa, D. C., Teixeira, E., Florence-Vilela, R., Almeida, R., Macedo, R. K. A., Arichelle, F., Pantrigo, E. J., Costa-Macedo, J. V., da Cruz Nunes, J. A., Araújo, D. B., de Araujo Costa Neto, L. A., Nunes Ferreira, L. F., Dantas Correa, L., da Costa Bezerra, R. B., Arcoverde, E., Galvão-Coelho, N. L.
Open Accessindividual

Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey

A global survey of 10,836 ayahuasca users reported high rates of acute physical effects (69.9%, chiefly vomiting) and medium-term psychological effects (55.9%), though most users framed psychological effects as part of a positive integration process and only small proportions required medical (2.3%) or professional (≈12%) help. Risk factors for physical adverse effects included older age at first use, physical health conditions, greater use, prior substance use disorder and unsupervised settings, while mental health effects were linked to anxiety disorders, physical conditions and stronger spiritual experiences but were less common in religious contexts, suggesting targets for screening, support and policy.

Published
November 16, 2022
Journal
PLOS Global Public Health
Authors
Bouso, J. C., Andión, O., Sarris, J., Scheidegger, M., Tófoli, L.F., Opaleye, E. S., Schubert, V., Perkins, D.
Open Accessindividual

Prophylactic action of ayahuasca in a non-human primate model of depressive-like behavior

This primate study (n=12) found that ayahuasca (at 3 points in time) led to better resilience to being separated from the family groups. The animals that had received ayahuasca (n=6) showed no indication of anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) and showed higher cortisol reactivity (positive).

Published
November 4, 2022
Journal
Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience
Authors
Galvão-Coelho, N. L., De Meiroz Grilo, M. L. P., de Sousa, G. M., de Sousa, M. B. C., Lobão-Soares, B., Palhano-Fontes, F., de Araujo, D. B., Perkins, D., Hallak, J. E., de Mendoça, L. A. C.
Open Accessindividual

Changes in mental health, wellbeing and personality following ayahuasca consumption: Results of a naturalistic longitudinal study

In a naturalistic longitudinal study of 53 ayahuasca‑naïve attendees, a single facilitated ceremony produced broad 1‑month improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, substance use, personality traits, relationships and spirituality. Baseline characteristics—particularly high negative emotionality and body dissociation and low self‑efficacy—predicted greater benefit while facets of the mystical experience did not, indicating potential for personalised treatment and warranting randomised controlled trials.

Published
October 26, 2022
Journal
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Authors
Perkins, D., Pagni, B. A., Sarris, J., Barbosa, P., Chenhall, R.
Open Accessindividual

Preliminary evidence of links between ayahuasca use and the corpus callosum

Using MRI data from 22 ayahuasca users and 22 matched controls, the study found preliminary evidence of greater corpus callosum thickness in users—most notably in the isthmus—and a positive association between callosal thickness and number of past ayahuasca sessions in the rostral body, although these effects did not survive corrections for multiple comparisons. These results suggest possible links between ayahuasca use and callosal structure but require replication in larger, ideally longitudinal, samples before clinical conclusions can be drawn.

Published
October 26, 2022
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors
Bouso, J. C., Simonsson, O., Kurth, F., Araújo, D. B., Gaser, C., Riba, J., Luders, E.

Clinical Trials

0 trials

No clinical trials have been tagged with both Ayahuasca and Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change yet.

Trials are continuously being added as new studies are registered.

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Search all Ayahuasca papers Search all Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change trials Full Ayahuasca profile Full Public Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change profile