Ayahuasca use and improvements in suicidal behavior: An exploratory qualitative study
Nádia Valéria Moreira Santos, Cristiane Ferreira Silveira, Camila Gutieres Dos Santos Soares Costa, Helena Palavro Basso, Paulo César Ribeiro Barbosa, Paulo Rogério Morais
Psychedelics May 16, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyche.2026.100023 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Adults from North and Southeast regions of Brazil who participated in ayahuasca ceremonies in neoshamanic contexts |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Exploratory research Qualitative research Poison control Suicide prevention Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Key findings | Ceremonial ayahuasca use in neoshamanic traditions was associated with reduced suicidal ideation and behavior. |
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceived effects of ayahuasca ceremonies on suicidality.
Method: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with nine participants from the North and Southeast regions of Brazil. These participants were part of a larger cohort and were selected to explore their perspectives on how ceremonial experiences with ayahuasca in neoshamanic contexts influenced the reduction of suicidal ideation and behavior.
Results: The interviews yielded three main thematic categories related to the therapeutic process of ceremonial ayahuasca use on suicidality: (1) motivations for seeking ayahuasca; (2) post-ayahuasca strategies for strengthening psychological well-being; and (3) the psychedelic experience and its perceived health benefits.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the ceremonial use of ayahuasca within neoshamanic traditions can have positive effects on suicidality. Furthermore, these practices may represent emerging and promising psychedelic-assisted care models that may be particularly valuable for communities lacking access to advanced medical treatment.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The antipodes Of the mind Indigenous people, shamans, members of different religious sects using Ayahuasca, and... | 2002 | Qualitative study | |
| Drug Tourism or Spiritual Healing? Ayahuasca Seekers in Amazonia Westerners participating in an ayahuasca retreat in Amazonia | 2005 | Qualitative study | |
| Therapeutic Effects of Ritual Ayahuasca Use in the Treatment of Substance Dependence—Qualitative Results Therapists, expert researchers, and individuals who underwent ayahuasca-assisted... | 2014 | Qualitative study | n = 29 |
| Nourishing the Spirit: Exploratory Research on Ayahuasca Experiences along the Continuum of Recovery from Eating Disorders Individuals previously diagnosed with an eating disorder | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 16 |
| Exploring ayahuasca‐assisted therapy for addiction: A qualitative analysis of preliminary findings among an Indigenous community in Canada Indigenous adults in Canada who participated in ayahuasca-assisted ceremonial retreats | 2019 | Qualitative study | n = 11 |
Citations in the library
Cites 30
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
- Long-term effects of psychedelic drugs: A systematic review Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews March 16, 2020
- Inclusion of people of color in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a review of the literature BMC Psychiatry July 31, 2018
- Increased frontal and paralimbic activation following ayahuasca, the pan-amazonian inebriant Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
and 25 more in the library