Childhood trauma, challenging experiences, and posttraumatic growth in ayahuasca use
Ksenia Cassidy, C. J. Healy, Eva Henje, Wendy D’andrea
Drug Science, Policy and Law 2024 DOI: 10.1177/20503245241238316 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 231 |
| Population | Adults who have used ayahuasca |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Adverse childhood experiences Intervention counseling Posttraumatic growth Early childhood Clinical psychology Mental health Developmental psychology |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Childhood trauma history was not associated with more challenging acute ayahuasca experiences or with greater posttraumatic growth. |
Abstract
Challenging experiences in ayahuasca use, childhood trauma, and posttraumatic growth have not been investigated systematically. This study aimed to explore whether a self-reported history of childhood trauma was associated with challenging experiences during acute ayahuasca effects and whether such challenging experiences were associated with beneficial long-term outcomes measured by posttraumatic growth. For this study, 231 individuals (mean age 40.29, 48% women) completed an online survey about traumatic experiences in childhood, challenges during acute ayahuasca effects, and perceived benefits of those challenges. This study found that people with histories of childhood trauma were not at greater risk of adverse or challenging experiences during acute ayahuasca effects than people without histories of childhood trauma ( r = .080, p = .281, 95% CI [–.066, .223]). Additionally, there was no difference in posttraumatic growth among those who had history of childhood trauma versus those who did not ( r = –.016, p = .837, 95% CI [–.166, .135]). People who have experienced more challenges during acute ayahuasca effects did not experience more ayahuasca-related posttraumatic growth ( r = .137, p = .076, 95% CI [–.014, .281]). These findings are important, as they may indicate that childhood trauma exposure does not pose the same risk for a poor treatment response to ayahuasca, as it predicts in other forms of intervention.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT Adults reporting a single most memorable God encounter experience, either nondrug or... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 4,285 |
| Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey. Ayahuasca users from more than 50 countries who completed an online survey | 2022 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 10,836 |
| Ayahuasca in adolescence: a preliminary psychiatric assessment. Adolescents from a Brazilian ayahuasca sect and matched controls | 2005 | Controlled cross-sectional study | n = 80 |
| Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users. Regular hoasca users from a U.S. branch of União do Vegetal and matched non-user controls | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | n = 57 |
| Indoleamine Hallucinogens in Cluster Headache: Results of the Clusterbusters Medication Use Survey People with cluster headache | 2015 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 496 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- An investigation into the varieties of extended difficulties following psychedelic drug use: Duration, severity and helpful coping strategies Journal of Psychedelic Studies December 3, 2024
- Recalled childhood trauma and post-psychedelic trajectories of change in a mixed-methods study Scientific Reports November 27, 2025
- Acute subjective effects of psychedelics in naturalistic group settings prospectively predict longitudinal improvements in trauma symptoms, trait shame, and connectedness among adults with childhood maltreatment histories. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry April 2, 2025
- Psychedelics, attachment, and enculturation dynamics: Prospects and challenges Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 30, 2025
- Difficulties following naturalistic psychedelic use and associations with adverse childhood experiences. International Journal of Drug Policy December 13, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 32
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2016
- Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Neuropsychopharmacology January 26, 2019
- Predicting Responses to Psychedelics: A Prospective Study Frontiers in Pharmacology November 2, 2018
and 27 more in the library