LGBTQ+ Ayahuasca Retreat Experience is Associated with Benefits to Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Spiritual Well-Being: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study.
Matthew X. Lowe, Quinn A Darby, Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, Heather Jackson
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2026.2644858 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective naturalistic study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca retreat |
| Duration | Seven-day retreat; assessments from 2-4 weeks pre-ceremony to 2-3 months post-ceremony |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Lgbtq+ Community-based healing Hallucinogen Psychedelic |
| Key points | Ayahuasca retreat participation was associated with reduced depression and anxiety, increased spiritual well-being and quality of life, and positive behavioral changes among SGM individuals. |
Abstract
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, and discrimination, yet remain underrepresented in psychedelic research. This prospective, naturalistic study explored the impact of an ayahuasca retreat experience on mental health, quality of life, and spiritual well-being among SGM participants. Participants attended a seven-day ayahuasca retreat and completed assessments across six time points from 2-4 weeks pre-ceremony to 2-3 months post-ceremony. Findings revealed significant reductions in depression and anxiety scores, alongside increases in spiritual well-being and quality of life, particularly within the first month following the retreat. Participants consistently described the experience as highly meaningful and spiritually significant, with many identifying the ceremony as among the most meaningful of their lives. Benefits were further supported by reports of positive behavioral changes, including improved interpersonal relationships and reduced substance use. Adverse effects were minimal and transient. Importantly, this study addresses the historical gap in the literature and highlights the need to reconceptualize psychedelic spaces as inclusive and reparative for queer communities. Given the historical misuse of psychedelics in conversion therapy, these findings mark a critical step in reclaiming psychedelics for SGM healing, empowerment, and identity affirmation.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network Experienced subjects | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 10 |
| Human Psychopharmacology of Hoasca, A Plant Hallucinogen Used in Ritual Context in Brazil Long-term members of a syncretic church that uses hoasca as a psychoactive sacrament... | 1996 | Observational cohort with matched controls | n = 30 |
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study Regular ayahuasca users and active controls in non-ayahuasca religions | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 242 |
Citations in the library
Cites 22
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- The antipodes Of the mind November 7, 2002
- The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion Journal of Psychedelic Studies July 1, 2019
- Ethical principles of traditional Indigenous medicine to guide western psychedelic research and practice. Lancet Regional Health. Americas February 1, 2023
- Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey. PLOS global public health 2022
and 17 more in the library