Single-Dose Ayahuasca for Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Associated With Cancer Diagnosis
Renan Massanobu Maekawa, Lorena T. L. Guerra, Bianca Villanova, Caio César De Paula, Anna Beatriz Vicentini Zacharias, Lucas Silva Rodrigues, José Augusto Silva Reis, Giordano Novak Rossi, José Carlos Bouso, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology September 18, 2026 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000002264 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-blind uncontrolled pilot study Placebo-controlled Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Female patients with cancer |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Duration | Assessments at baseline and 1, 2, 3 weeks and 3 months after the dosing session |
| Measures | Beck Depression Inventory-II, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Beck Anxiety Inventory |
| Topics | Anxiety Ayahuasca |
| Key points | Ayahuasca produced significant reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms lasting up to three weeks after a single administration in six women with cancer, with no serious adverse effects. Greater depressive symptom improvement was associated with more intense affective and subjective psychedelic experiences. The authors characterize these as preliminary findings and note that the small sample and lack of a control group limit generalization. |
Abstract
Background: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among patients with cancer and are associated with substantial reductions in quality of life. However, effective therapeutic options remain limited. Ayahuasca, a serotonergic psychedelic traditionally used in Amazonian ritual contexts, has shown rapid antidepressant and anxiolytic effects following a single administration in previous studies.
Methods: This single-blind study included 6 female participants. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 weeks and 3 months following the dosing session using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Beck Anxiety Inventory scales.
Findings: Results indicated significant reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms lasting up to 3 weeks following administration, with no serious adverse effects reported. Greater improvements in depressive symptoms were associated with more intense affective and subjective psychedelic experiences during the session.
Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that ayahuasca may produce sustained improvements in mood and anxiety symptoms in patients with cancer. However, the small sample size and lack of a control group limit generalization, underscoring the need for larger, placebo-controlled studies.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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A single ayahuasca dose produced significant reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms lasting up to three weeks, with no serious adverse effects, though the sample was small and uncontrolled.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on ayahuasca for anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 22
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
and 17 more in the library