The therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in depression, generalized anxiety, and substance use disorders: modulation of the depressive burden in a longitudinal study.
Gláucio Silva Camargos, Geraldo Magela De Faria Júnior, Marcelo Lourenço, Gerardo Maria De Araújo Filho
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1726909 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 280 |
| Population | Adults with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, or substance use disorders treated at clinics in northwestern São Paulo, Brazil |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Duration | Six-month follow-up after the ayahuasca intervention |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Addiction Anxiety Depression |
| Keywords | Mental disorders Psychedelics Psychotherapy Resistant depression |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca combined with psychotherapeutic support was associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms sustained for up to 180 days, though individual responses varied. |
Abstract
This longitudinal observational study evaluated changes in depressive symptoms associated with ritualistic ayahuasca use in patients diagnosed with depressive disorders, as well as depressive burden in individuals with anxiety and substance use disorders. The research was conducted with 280 adults treated at clinics in the northwestern region of the state of São Paulo, under the jurisdiction of Regional Health Division XV (DRS XV), which covers a population of over 2 million inhabitants. Participants were assessed at six different time points over a six-month follow-up period after the ayahuasca intervention, with depressive symptoms measured using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The results indicate a significant reduction in depression scores shortly after the intervention, with improvements sustained for up to 180 days, though individual responses varied. The analysis reveals that ayahuasca, when combined with psychotherapeutic support, can provide significant benefits in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and also shows potential in the treatment of substance dependence. We concluded that the final variability in responses suggests that psychodynamic and clinical factors, such as the integration of the psychedelic experience and therapeutic support, play a crucial role in treatment effectiveness. This study contributes to the consolidation of psychedelic-assisted therapeutic protocols, highlighting the importance of continuous and personalized follow-up in the treatment of complex psychiatric conditions.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 3 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
-
Ayahuasca combined with psychotherapeutic support was associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms sustained for up to 180 days, and also shows potential in the treatment of substance dependence.
Synthesized
-
Ayahuasca combined with psychotherapeutic support was associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms sustained for up to 180 days, though individual responses varied.
Synthesized
-
Ayahuasca combined with psychotherapeutic support was associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms sustained for up to 180 days, though individual responses varied.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ayahuasca for depression, 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 | |
| Changes in mental health, wellbeing and personality following ayahuasca consumption: Results of a naturalistic longitudinal study. Ayahuasca-naive individuals attending facilitated ayahuasca ceremonies | 2022 | Longitudinal observational study | n = 53 |
| Long-Term Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Associated with Naturalistic Ayahuasca Consumption. Adults with no prior exposure to ayahuasca participating in neo-shamanic ayahuasca... | 2025 | Prospective cohort study | n = 66 |
| "Vine of the Soul": The Potential of Ayahuasca for Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Ceremony Participants and the Role of Rumination Participants in a North American ayahuasca ceremony | 2024 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |