Psychological Medicine
June 15, 2018
Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Dayanna Barreto, Heloisa Onias et al.
827 citations
A single dose of ayahuasca reduced depression severity more than placebo in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Over seven days, depression scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale were significantly lower in the ayahuasca group at days 1 and 2, and even more so at day 7. Response rates at day 7 were 64% for ayahuasca versus 27% for placebo, and remission rates showed a trend toward significance (36% vs. 7%). Effect sizes grew from day 1 to day 7, indicating sustained improvement. This is the first controlled trial to test a psychedelic substance in treatment-resistant depression, supporting ayahuasca's safety and therapeutic value when used in an appropriate setting.
Frontiers in Psychology
June 4, 2019
Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida, Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Flávia Santos Da Silva et al.
173 citations
A single dose of ayahuasca increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in both healthy controls and patients with treatment-resistant depression 48 hours after ingestion, compared with placebo. Baseline BDNF levels did not predict major depression or clinical characteristics, but lower BDNF was linked to hypocortisolemia. Among patients, only those who received ayahuasca showed a negative correlation between BDNF levels and depressive symptoms at 48 hours. The findings suggest a potential link between ayahuasca's antidepressant effects and changes in BDNF, supporting further investigation into psychedelics for depression.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 10, 2020
Nicole Leite Galvão‐coelho, Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida et al.
124 citations
In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, people with treatment-resistant depression had higher baseline levels of C-reactive protein than healthy controls, and a negative correlation between C-reactive protein and cortisol was observed. Ayahuasca, but not placebo, reduced C-reactive protein levels in both patients and healthy controls 48 hours after ingestion. Among patients treated with ayahuasca, larger reductions in C-reactive protein correlated with lower depressive symptoms. No significant changes were found for interleukin 6 or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and these biomarkers did not predict antidepressant response or remission. The findings clarify biological mechanisms underlying ayahuasca's antidepressant effects.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
May 21, 2020
Morgana M. Novaes, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Heloisa Onias et al.
110 citations
Four weeks of Bhastrika pranayama, a yoga breathing exercise, significantly reduced anxiety and negative affect in thirty healthy young adults. Brain scans showed that the practice modulated activity in emotion-processing regions including the amygdala, anterior cingulate, anterior insula, and prefrontal cortex, and decreased functional connectivity between the anterior insula and lateral prefrontal cortex. Changes in connectivity between the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and right anterior insula correlated with changes in anxiety. The authors note these analyses were preliminary and exploratory.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
May 8, 2018
Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida, Erick Allan Dos Santos Silva et al.
102 citations
In treatment-resistant depression, a single dose of ayahuasca normalizes the blunted awakening salivary cortisol response observed in patients, bringing it to levels similar to those in healthy controls. During the dosing session, both patients and healthy volunteers who received ayahuasca showed higher increases in salivary cortisol than those who received placebo. No significant changes in plasma cortisol were detected 48 hours after dosing. These findings suggest that ayahuasca modulates salivary cortisol, a hormone involved in depression's etiology, and support further investigation into its antidepressant potential.
Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
November 21, 2018
Flávia S. Da Silva, Erick Allan Dos Santos Silva, Geovan Menezes de Sousa et al.
46 citations
In a juvenile marmoset model of depression, a single dose of ayahuasca reversed stress-induced hypocortisolemia within 24 hours, reduced stereotypic scratching in males, increased feeding in males, and restored body weight in both sexes, with behavioral effects lasting up to 14 days. Saline vehicle did not produce these effects. The findings suggest ayahuasca may have rapid and sustained antidepressant properties, supporting further research into psychedelics for early-onset depression.
International Journal of Yoga
January 1, 2020
Stephany Campanelli, Adrianobretanha Lopes Tort, Bruno Lobão‐soares
41 citations
A systematic review of 14 studies published between 2008 and 2018 found that yogic breathing techniques improve emotional and cognitive performance. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and included articles from Science Direct, PubMed, and Virtual Health Library. The authors note that the physiological mechanisms by which these practices modulate the human nervous system remain unclear and call for further research into specific aspects such as breath retention, prolonged expiration, attention on fluid respiration, and abdominal or thoracic breathing.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
July 28, 2017
Robson Savoldi, Daniel Polari, Jaquelinne Pinheiro‐da‐silva et al.
38 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian infusion of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, contains the hallucinogen DMT and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. In adult zebrafish, low concentrations (0.1 ml/L) reduced anxiety-like bottom dwelling without affecting locomotion, while higher concentrations (1 and 3 ml/L) increased freezing and bottom dwelling, indicating anxiogenic effects. Swimming speed and distance traveled decreased with rising concentration. The findings suggest ayahuasca has dose-dependent, biphasic effects on anxiety and locomotion, with low doses potentially reducing anxiety and higher doses increasing it. Temporal behavioral analysis in zebrafish offers a sensitive method for studying ayahuasca's effects on the vertebrate brain.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2020
Sérgio Mota-Rolim, Kelly Bulkeley, Stephany Campanelli et al.
31 citations
Religions have long recognized lucid dreaming (LD) as an important conscious state, predating modern scientific study by millennia. Hindu texts over 2,000 years old divide consciousness into waking, dreaming (including LD), and deep sleep. Tibetan Buddhists practice Dream Yoga to recognize dreams, overcome fears, and control dream content. Islam regards LD as a valuable mental state for mystical experiences. Christian theologian Augustine described LD as a preview of the afterlife. Spiritism in the nineteenth century linked LD to out-of-body experiences. Abrahamic religions view dreams as communication with God, while Indian traditions cultivate self-awareness through LD induction techniques. These historical religious insights can inform current scientific research on LD phenomenology.
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
January 1, 2022
Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Bruno Lobão‐soares, Nicole Leite Galvão‐coelho et al.
25 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew containing DMT and MAOIs, shows rapid antidepressant effects in clinical trials. Evidence from open and placebo-controlled studies indicates significant improvement starting as early as one day after administration. This article reviews the history, pharmacology, clinical trials, and behavioral markers of ayahuasca's antidepressant properties.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
January 27, 2017
Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Dayanna Barreto, Heloisa Onias et al.
22 citations
preprint
A single dose of ayahuasca produced significant antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression compared to placebo. Depression severity, measured by the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), was significantly lower in the ayahuasca group at one, two, and seven days after dosing. Effect sizes increased over time, reaching a Cohen's d of 1.49 at day seven. Response rates were significantly higher in the ayahuasca group at day seven (64% vs. 27%), and remission rates were marginally significant (36% vs. 7%). This controlled trial supports the safety and therapeutic value of ayahuasca in treating depression.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
August 27, 2018
Bruno Lobão‐soares, Paulianny Eduardo-Da-Silva, Hugo Amarilha et al.
15 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew containing β-carbolines and DMT, impairs memory and locomotion in zebrafish after chronic (13-day) exposure. In a one-trial object discrimination task, adult zebrafish exposed chronically to 0.1 or 0.5 ml/L ayahuasca showed worse discriminative performance and altered locomotion compared to controls, while acute (single) exposure did not affect memory but the higher concentration reduced locomotion. The findings suggest that chronic ayahuasca use negatively affects mnemonic parameters, reinforcing the zebrafish as a model for psychedelic drug screening.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 5, 2022
Geovan Menezes de Sousa, Vagner Deuel de Oliveira Tavares, Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão et al.
14 citations
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.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
January 1, 2022
Maria Lara Porpino de Meiroz Grilo, Geovan Menezes de Sousa, Lilían Andrade Carlos de Mendonça et al.
12 citations
Repeated ayahuasca administration before and during social isolation prevented depressive-like behaviors and cortisol alterations in common marmosets. Animals given ayahuasca showed higher cortisol reactivity and fecal cortisol levels similar to family-group controls, no signs of anhedonia, and no increase in chronic stress-related behaviors, unlike isolated animals that received no intervention. The findings suggest ayahuasca promotes resilient responses and may have a prophylactic action against depression.
January 1, 2021
Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Sérgio Mota-Rolim, Bruno Lobão‐soares et al.
11 citations
Ayahuasca shows promise as a potent alternative medicine for treating depression and anxiety. In a study involving 100 participants, 70% reported significant mood improvements after just one session, outperforming traditional antidepressants. Biochemical analysis revealed that ayahuasca influences neurotransmitter receptors, potentially reshaping behavior and emotional well-being. Participants also noted reduced symptoms of anxiety, highlighting its potential in psychiatry. This suggests psychedelics could play a vital role in future drug studies, offering new avenues for mental health treatment beyond conventional methods.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
January 31, 2018
Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida, Erick Allan Dos Santos Silva et al.
5 citations
preprint
In treatment-resistant depression, a single dose of ayahuasca normalizes the blunted awakening salivary cortisol response that is characteristic of the disorder. Patients with major depression showed hypocortisolemia and a diminished cortisol awakening response compared with healthy controls at baseline. During the dosing session, both patients and controls who ingested ayahuasca had a large increase in salivary cortisol relative to placebo groups. Forty-eight hours after ayahuasca, the awakening cortisol response in treated patients became similar to that of controls, an effect not seen with placebo. No changes in plasma cortisol occurred 48 hours after either ayahuasca or placebo. The modulation of salivary cortisol may contribute to ayahuasca's rapid antidepressant effects.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
January 25, 2018
Flávia Santos Da Silva, Erick Allan Dos Santos Silva, Geovan Menezes de Sousa et al.
4 citations
preprint
In a juvenile model of depression using common marmosets, a single dose of ayahuasca reversed depressive-like symptoms within 24 hours, including recovery of cortisol levels, reduced stereotypic scratching in males, increased feeding, and restored body weight in both sexes. The effects lasted 14 days. The study suggests ayahuasca produces faster and more durable antidepressant effects than the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline, supporting its potential as a treatment for early-age depression.
Neuropharmacology
July 1, 2026
Anne Nathalia De Sousa-Silva, Clarissa de Almeida Moura, Carina Ioná De Oliveira Torres et al.
1 citation
In helpless mice, the psychedelic compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) produced rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects comparable to the fast-acting antidepressant S-ketamine. DMT at 10 mg/kg reversed escape deficits and reduced immobility in several behavioral tests, with effects lasting up to 8 days, whereas S-ketamine's effects lasted up to 30 hours. DMT also showed anxiolytic-like effects, reversing stress-induced hypolocomotion and increasing open-arm exploration, while S-ketamine did not. Neither drug altered behavior in the novelty-suppressed feeding test. These findings suggest DMT has transdiagnostic therapeutic potential for stress-related disorders.
LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
July 28, 2017
Robson Savoldi, Daniel Polari, Jaquelinne Pinheiro‐da‐silva et al.
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian infusion made from Banisteriopsis caapi stem and Psychotria viridis leaves, contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. In adult zebrafish exposed to five concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 3 ml/L, with 14 fish per group), swimming speed and distance traveled decreased with higher concentrations, while freezing and bottom dwelling increased at 1 and 3 ml/L. At 0.1 ml/L, bottom dwelling declined, suggesting reduced anxiety-like behavior. Low doses did not affect locomotion and appeared anxiolytic, whereas higher doses produced anxiogenic effects. Temporal behavioral analysis in zebrafish offers a sensitive method for studying ayahuasca-induced brain changes.