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Cited by 73Psychedelics and Drug StudiesReligion, Spirituality, and PsychologyAlkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology

Ayahuasca use and reported effects on depression and anxiety symptoms: an international cross-sectional study of 11,912 consumers

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Sarris, Jerome, Perkins, Daniel, Cribb, Lachlan, Schubert, Violeta, Opaleye, Emerita, Bouso, José Carlos, Scheidegger, Milan, Aicher, Helena +5 more·2021·Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
DOI 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100098
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Abstract

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian brew which has emerging data indicating that it has antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. This paper uses data from the Global Ayahuasca Project (GAP), which was undertaken across 2017–2020 and involved 11912 people, to examine the perceived effects of Ayahuasca consumption on affective symptoms. The study focused on the subsample reporting depression or anxiety diagnoses at time of Ayahuasca consumption. Of participants reporting depression (n = 1571) or anxiety (n = 1125) at the time of consuming Ayahuasca, 78% reported that their depression was either ‘very much’ improved (46%), or ‘completely resolved’ (32%); while 70% of those with anxiety reported that their symptoms were ‘very much’ improved (54%), or ‘completely resolved’ (16%). A range of factors were associated with greater reported affective symptoms improvement, including subjective mystical experience, number of Ayahuasca sessions, and number of personal psychological insights experienced. 2.7% and 4.5% of drinkers with depression or anxiety, respectively, reported worsening of symptoms. This study is recognized as a cross-sectional analysis which cannot assess treatment efficacy. Selection bias may exist due to survey-respondents with favorable experience being potentially biased towards participation. Drinkers of Ayahuasca in naturalistic settings perceived remarkable benefits for their affective symptoms in this survey assessment. There is no obvious evidence of negative mental health effects being associated with long-term consumption. Additional randomized controlled trial evidence is required to establish the efficacy of Ayahuasca in affective disorders, and to understand the worsened symptoms reported by a small percentage of drinkers.

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  • Converging evidence from preclinical and human studies suggests oral formulations of DMT such as ayahuasca show potential in reducing anxiety, depressive symptoms, addictive behaviors, and posttraumatic distress.

    “Indeed, converging evidence from preclinical and human studies suggest that oral formulations of DMT such as ayahuasca show potential in reducing anxiety, depressive symptoms, addictive behaviors, and posttraumatic distress (1–3, 30–35).”

    From Potential therapeutic effects of an ayahuasca-inspired N,N-DMT and harmine formulation: a controlled trial in healthy subjects (2024) · cites this paper as [33]

    The Introduction describes human studies reporting antidepressant and anti-addictive effects of ayahuasca, and the Discussion reports self-perceived improvements in anxiety and depression. Our copy does not report a reduction in posttraumatic distress, so it supports only part of the cited sentence. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Galvão-Coelho, N., Marx, W., Gonzalez, M., Sinclair, J., de Manincor, M., Perkins, D., Sarris, J., 2020a. Classic serotonergic psychedelics on mood and depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. In Submission.
  2. Palhano-Fontes, F. , Barreto, D. , Onias, H. , Andrade, K.C. , Novaes, M. , Pessoa, J.A. , Mo- ta-Rolim, S.A. , Osório, F. , Sanches, R. , dos Santos, R.G. , 2017. A randomized place- bo-controlled trial on the antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treat- ment-resistant depression. bioRxiv, 103531 .

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Authors
Sarris, J., Perkins, D., Cribb, L., Schubert, V., Opaleye, E., Bouso, J. C., Scheidegger, M., Aicher, H., Simonova, H., Horák, M., Galvão-Coelho, N. L., Castle, D., & Tófoli, L. F.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR)
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • Mendel University in Brno (CZ)
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Corresponding author
Sarris, Jerome
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-04
Volume
4
Pages
100098
ISSN
2666-9153 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100098
OpenAlex
W3127961940
Cited by
73
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9
FWCI
9.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1125000)
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
  • Ministério da Educação (88887.466701/2019-00)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
Keywords
ayahuasca, depression, anxiety, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, psychological insight, symptom improvement, adverse effects, naturalistic psychedelic use

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