Prior ayahuasca experience is associated with improved mental health: observational data from ritualistic settings
Lucas Cruz, Marcio S. C. Longo, Rafael S. Rodrigues, Tiago Arruda Sanchez, Daniel C Mograbi
npj Mental Health Research September 10, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s44184-026-00235-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People planning to attend an ayahuasca ceremony |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Key findings | High-experience ayahuasca users reported significantly lower alcohol use, depression, stress, and anxiety and higher spiritual well-being and stronger metaphysical beliefs than less experienced users. Aberrant salience was higher in both experienced groups than in naïve users, with no difference between the two experienced groups. Tobacco use and other cognitive measures showed only modest or smaller differences. |
Abstract
Abstract This observational survey study investigated the relationship between prior ayahuasca experience and mental health and mindset outcomes. Participants planning to attend an ayahuasca ceremony completed a survey before their upcoming ayahuasca use. Measures included substance use, depression, anxiety, stress, spiritual well-being, aberrant salience, and metaphysical beliefs. Participants were categorized into three groups according to their prior ayahuasca experience: naïve, low/moderate, and high-experience users. High-experience users reported significantly lower alcohol use, depression, stress, and anxiety, as well as higher spiritual well-being and stronger metaphysical beliefs. Aberrant salience scores were higher in both low- and high-experience groups compared to naïve users, with no differences observed between the two experienced groups. Tobacco use differences were modest, and other cognitive measures showed smaller effects. These findings suggest that greater prior experience with ayahuasca is associated with improved psychological and spiritual well-being and stronger metaphysical beliefs, with more limited effects on substance use and cognitive variables, highlighting areas for further investigation into its potential therapeutic applications.
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 |