April 2026
Altered states of consciousness
What April 2026's 10 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Altered states of consciousness research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 2 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for Altered states of consciousness, non-ordinary states, altered consciousness, ASC, then ranked by relevance.
Research in April 2026 found that ayahuasca consistently reduces suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, with effects linked to neuroplasticity and default mode network modulation. A large longitudinal study showed lasting improvements in personality, quality of life, and decentering among Western participants in Shipibo-led retreats, with minimal adverse effects. However, evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and lack of large-scale controlled trials.
Evidence by study
Direction is which way each study's own result points, not our rating of the study.
What the directions mean
- Supports:
- the study found the intervention worked, or its hypothesis held.
- Opposes:
- it found the opposite, no benefit or a harm.
- No effect:
- no significant difference either way.
- Mixed:
- effects in both directions within the same study.
- Unclear:
- the abstract does not report a direction.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca Therapy: Possible Reduction of Suicidal Ideation in Treatment-Resistant Depression - A Systematic Review. 2026 | systematic review | 5 | Supports | Ayahuasca administration is consistently associated with rapid and significant reductions in suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression. |
| Symmetrical Global Mental Health (Sym-GMH): Ayahuasca and shipibo traditional medicine for lasting changes in personality and quality of life 2026 | prospective longitudinal study | 264 | Supports | Over 12 months, participants showed significant reductions in Neuroticism, improvements in quality of life and decentering, with 91.7% reporting long-term benefits and minimal adverse effects (2.3%). |
Ayahuasca administration is consistently associated with rapid and significant reductions in suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression.
systematic review Sample size: 5
Over 12 months, participants showed significant reductions in Neuroticism, improvements in quality of life and decentering, with 91.7% reporting long-term benefits and minimal adverse effects (2.3%).
prospective longitudinal study Sample size: 264
Points of agreement
- Both studies report positive effects of ayahuasca on mental health outcomes, including reduced depressive symptoms and improved well-being.
- Both highlight the role of neuroplasticity and default mode network modulation as underlying mechanisms.
Conflicts
- No direct conflicts; the systematic review notes methodological heterogeneity across included studies, but findings are consistent.
Gaps
- Lack of large-scale, randomized controlled trials with active placebos.
- Durability of effects beyond 12 months is not assessed.
- Limited diversity in populations (mostly Western participants in retreat settings).
- No studies on dose-response or long-term safety in clinical populations.