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Home/Research/Ayahuasca/Set & Setting

Ayahuasca for Set & Setting

14 papers and 1 clinical trial exploring ayahuasca as a treatment for set & setting.

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 264 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression, with many seeking innovative treatment options such as psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Set & Setting

The concept of 'set and setting' is critical in psychedelic research, influencing therapeutic outcomes in clinical environments. Creating optimal conditions is essential for maximising the efficacy and safety of psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly in the context of mental health disorders.

Full Set & Setting profile

Academic Research

14 papers
Open Accessindividual

Mixed-methods analysis on psychedelic-augmented meditation experiences from a randomized controlled mindfulness retreat

This secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial of DMT/harmine in experienced meditators found that meditation under DMT-harmine differed from placebo in its thematic and experiential profile while still sharing some semantic features. Using NLP-based analysis of phenomenological interviews, the study also suggested overlap between meditative and psychedelic states and highlighted the strong influence of context and spiritual framing on subjective experience.

Published
March 18, 2026
Journal
Scientific Reports
Authors
Schlomberg, J. T. T., Meling, D., Grylka, R., Vasella, E. A., Augustinovic, D., Scheidegger, M.
Open Accessindividual

Enhancing mindfulness and compassion through an ayahuasca-inspired formulation containing N,N-DMT and harmine: A randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects

In a randomised, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled within‑subjects trial in 31 healthy volunteers, an ayahuasca‑inspired N,N‑DMT plus harmine formulation produced acute increases in mindfulness and both self‑ and other‑directed compassion one day after dosing compared with harmine or placebo, with larger effects in high‑sensitivity individuals. These findings suggest the formulation may have therapeutic potential similar to traditional ayahuasca and warrant further clinical investigation.

Published
June 19, 2025
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Aicher, H. D., Wicki, I. A., Meling, D., Mueller, M. J., Dornbierer, D. A., Scheidegger, M.
Open Accessindividual

The antidepressant effects of vaporized N,N-Dimethyltryptamine: a preliminary report in treatment-resistant depression

This Phase 2a open‑label, dose‑escalation study in six patients with treatment‑resistant depression found that a single‑day session of vapourised N,N‑dimethyltryptamine produced rapid and sustained reductions in depressive symptoms (mean MADRS change −22 at Day 7 and −17 at one month), with 83.3% response and 66.7% remission at Day 7 and 66.7% response and 50% remission at one month. The authors highlight the non‑invasive, short‑acting delivery as a practical advantage that could improve accessibility of psychedelic-assisted interventional psychiatry.

Published
January 4, 2024
Journal
MedRvix
Authors
Falchi-Carvalho, M., Barros, H., Bolcont, R., Laborde, S., Wießner, I., 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., Arcoverde, E., Galvão-Coelho, N. L., Araújo, D. B., Palhano-Fontes, F.
Paywallindividual

Ayahuasca, Personality and Acute Psychological Effects in Neo-Shamanic and Religious Settings in Uruguay

This study (n=44) analyzed Uruguayan ayahuasca users in neo-shamanic and Santo Daime groups through chemical tests, ethnography, and psychometrics. Santo Daime participants scored lower in certain personality traits, possibly due to the neo-shamanic group's treatment or Santo Daime's religious framework. The neo-shamanic group had higher scores in Somesthesia and Perception, likely due to their high-arousal rituals.

Published
September 25, 2023
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Authors
Apud, I., Scuro, J., Rodríguez, L., Hernandez, G., Carrera, I., Lozano, F., Retta, J. I.
Open Accessindividual

The influence of ceremonial settings on mystical and challenging experiences occasioned by ayahuasca: A survey among ritualistic and religious ayahuasca users

In a survey of 2,751 ritualistic and religious ayahuasca users, higher ratings on setting dimensions—particularly social, comfort, infrastructure and decoration—were associated with fewer challenging experiences (explaining 41% of CEQ variance), whereas associations with mystical experiences were weaker (leadership and comfort explained 14% of MEQ variance). Ratings varied by tradition (União do Vegetal reported higher social ratings; infrastructure, comfort and decoration related more to mystical experiences in neo‑shamanic groups), and the SQAE is proposed as a tool to monitor setting effects and guide ritual design to reduce challenging experiences and support mystical ones.

Published
July 15, 2022
Journal
Frontiers in Psychology
Authors
Pontual, A. A. D. D., Tófoli, L. F., Corradi-Webster, C. M., van Oorsouw, K., Delgado, A. R. O., Ramaekers, J. G.
Paywallindividual

The Power of Social Attribution: Perspectives on the Healing Efficacy of Ayahuasca

The paper argues that Indigenous and biomedical frameworks for ayahuasca are ontologically incommensurate: Indigenous efficacy is understood as correct communication with non‑human powers mediated by ritual, whereas modern medicine explains effects via MAO inhibition and dimethyltryptamine‑triggered neuropsychological processes, so one cannot legitimately be used to validate the other. It also highlights the colonial dynamics in neo‑shamanic and recreational appropriation and calls for these issues to be questioned and resolved in any application of ayahuasca.

Published
October 28, 2021
Journal
Frontiers in Psychology
Authors
Brabec de Mori, B.

Clinical Trials

1 trial
CompletedPhase I

Mindfulness and Psychedelics

This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=40) aims to investigate the potential neurophysiological synergy effects between mindfulness meditation and psychedelics, particularly ayahuasca, on experienced meditators.

Started
February 20, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05780216

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Search all Ayahuasca papers Search all Set & Setting trials Full Ayahuasca profile Full Set & Setting profile