How does ayahuasca work from a psychiatric perspective? Pros and cons of the entheogenic therapy.
Laura Orsolini, Stefania Chiappini, Duccio Papanti, Roberto Latini, Umberto Volpe, Michele Fornaro, Carmine Tomasetti, Federica Vellante, Domenico de Berardis
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2728 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy volunteers and clinical samples |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca DMT Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Entheogenic therapy Hallucinogens Psychedelic psychiatry |
| Citations | 27 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca may be beneficial as an antidepressant, emotional regulator, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive drug with fast-acting and enduring clinical effects, but should not be used in bipolar or psychotic patients. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic plant preparation, traditionally consumed in sacred ceremonies by indigenous North-Westerner Amazonian countries like Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. It is fundamental to carefully balance benefits/risks related to the ayahuasca intake, both during ceremonies and experimental settings. The aim is at evaluating and comparing the potential therapeutic benefits versus health risks related to ayahuasca intake (both acutely and chronically), focusing on its application in psychedelic psychiatry. A comprehensive mini overview focusing on psychiatric outcomes following ayahuasca intake both in healthy volunteers and in clinical samples. Preclinical, observational, and experimental studies in healthy volunteers as well as in clinical samples suggest that ayahuasca may be beneficial as an antidepressant, emotional regulator, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive drug, by exerting fast-acting and enduring clinical effects. Ayahuasca appears to be safe and well tolerated, nausea and emesis being the most reported and transient side effects. Some findings suggest not to use ayahuasca in bipolar or psychotic patients because of an increased risk of manic switch and/or psychotic onset. Further research should be carried out in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, by implementing neuroimaging studies, in order to better evaluate therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in mental disorders.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 20
- Influence of Context and Setting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes of Ayahuasca Drinkers: Results of a Large International Survey. Frontiers in Pharmacology April 21, 2021
- Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- N,N‐dimethyltryptamine and Amazonian ayahuasca plant medicine Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental February 17, 2022
- Reconsidering evidence for psychedelic-induced psychosis: an overview of reviews, a systematic review, and meta-analysis of human studies. Molecular Psychiatry March 1, 2025
- Ayahuasca blocks ethanol preference in an animal model of dependence and shows no acute toxicity Journal of Ethnopharmacology November 22, 2021
and 15 more in the library
Cites 71
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator Science February 13, 2009
- Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry March 1, 2015
- Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology December 11, 2015
and 66 more in the library