Ayahuasca use has become international, often employed by religious groups for ritual, therapeutic, and personal growth purposes. Research on its effects has grown, but user perceptions remain underexplored. In a qualitative study based on interviews, users reported that ayahuasca use correlates with a search for self-knowledge and clarity of consciousness, leading to changes in how they perceive everyday issues.
Depression is a prevalent and disabling mental disorder considered a public health problem. It is characterized by persistent depressed mood, loss of interest in daily activities, cognitive and somatic changes, and often accompanied by fatigue, sleep or appetite disturbances. About 20–40% of patients with major depressive disorder do not respond adequately to conventional pharmacological treatment and are classified as having treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Psilocybin, a tryptamine alkaloid found in hallucinogenic mushrooms of the species Psilocybe mexicana, acts as a partial agonist of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, altering perception, mood, and thought.