In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 72 participants, ayahuasca's effects on depression-related biomarkers were examined two days after dosing. Larger reductions in depressive symptoms during the session were linked to higher serum cortisol levels in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Smaller changes in salivary cortisol during ayahuasca use were associated with higher brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in patients who showed greater clinical improvement in depressive symptoms. No moderating effects were found for the cortisol awakening response, interleukin-6, or C-reactive protein in patients, nor for any biomarker in healthy controls or the placebo group. The findings suggest that acute emotional and physiological responses during ayahuasca sessions may influence key biomarkers of depression.
Adults with major depressive disorder who report higher levels of dispositional mindfulness—the tendency to attend to present-moment experiences with openness and awareness—show fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, better sleep quality, and higher self-esteem compared to those with lower trait mindfulness. In a cross-sectional study of 97 adults diagnosed with MDD, two clusters emerged: a High Trait group and a Low Trait group. The High Trait group had significantly lower depressive symptoms (d = 0.795) and anxiety symptoms (d = 0.739), and higher self-esteem (d = -0.586) and sleep quality (d = 0.460). These results suggest trait mindfulness may protect against poor mental health in depression.