Journal of psychoactive drugs
November 23, 2024
Daniel Perkins, Jerome Sarris, Tessa Cowley-Court et al.
5 citations
People who consume ayahuasca in naturalistic settings—religious, traditional, or non-traditional—report better current mental health and greater psychological well-being, according to a large online survey of 7,576 participants from over 50 countries. More lifetime ayahuasca uses were linked to better mental health scores, and this association remained strong even after accounting for other factors and did not fade over time. Strong mystical experiences, self-insights, and community or social support were also tied to better mental health and well-being, whereas acute extreme fear during sessions and difficulty integrating the experience were linked to poorer outcomes. These patterns held for individuals both with and without a history of mental illness.
February 21, 2023
Simon Ruffell, Nigel Netzband, WaiFung Tsang et al.
3 citations
preprint
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from the Amazon Rainforest made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a DMT-containing plant like Psychotria viridis, has seen a surge in global interest since 2000. This review covers its history, pharmacology, and phenomenological effects, as well as clinical applications. Tourists increasingly travel to the Amazon to consume it, and retreat centers offering plant medicine have become a thriving business. Anecdotal reports range from evangelical accounts to stories of physical and psychological harm. The brew shows promise as a psychedelic agent warranting more empirical research into its neurochemical mechanisms and therapeutic uses.
BMJ Open
April 1, 2025
Vanessa L. Beesley, Tom Kennedy, Fiona Maccallum et al.
2 citations
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) affects up to 30% of bereaved carers in oncology settings, and current treatments fail up to half of participants. The PARTING trial is the first to test psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for cancer-related PGD. In this open-label pilot, about 15 participants receive a 25 mg dose of psilocybin with supportive guidance, plus preparation and integration sessions delivered by a psychologist and a nurse or Indigenous Therapist. Feasibility, safety, and acceptability are assessed through recruitment rates, adverse events, physiological measures, and qualitative interviews. Quantitative measures include grief severity, depression, anxiety, and quality of life over a 12-month follow-up.
Front Psychiatry
August 15, 2025
Yvonne A. Bonomo, Amanda F. Norman, Lisa Collins et al.
1 citation
Three Acacia-based formulations of DMT and harmala alkaloids were safe and well tolerated in 9 healthy volunteers who had previously used ayahuasca. No serious adverse events occurred, and physical exams, vital signs, and lab tests showed no clinically significant changes. Participants rated the subjective experience of all formulations as generally similar to ayahuasca, and one formulation (ACL-010) was rated as similar or more beneficial. Four-week follow-up measures of psychological wellbeing and perceptual effects showed little difference between formulations. The small sample and open-label design limit generalizability, but the results suggest Acacia-derived DMT formulations are a feasible alternative for future clinical trials.
Forensic Chemistry
March 25, 2025
Pragna Gaur, Liam Engel, Damian Robert Hall et al.
1 citation
Mescaline concentrations in ornamental San Pedro cacti vary widely, posing risks of unintended low or high doses if used illicitly. A new UHPLC-(ESI)MS/MS method rapidly and reliably quantifies mescaline in these cacti and screens others. Preliminary results suggest higher mescaline levels in the chlorenchyma than in the parenchyma of San Pedro. Screening revealed mescaline in two varieties of Echinopsis subdenudata for the first time, at concentrations from 36 μg/g to 2.45 mg/g, while six other cacti had none. This finding supports the chemotaxonomic argument that Trichocereus and Echinopsis genera may not be distinct and should be combined. The discovery of mescaline in a popular ornamental cactus highlights the need for routine forensic screening to keep pace with emerging psychedelic drug trends.
PLOS mental health
January 1, 2025
Óscar Andión, José Carlos Bouso, Jerome J Sarris et al.
1 citation
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian decoction, is being studied for mental health benefits, but its adverse effects are not well understood. An analysis of 10,836 participants from the Global Ayahuasca Survey found that 14.2% had a prior anxiety disorder and 19.7% a depressive disorder, yet their median mental health score (SF-12) was 50.16, comparable to the general population. A history of anxiety or depression was linked to more adverse mental states after use. However, experiences like visual distortions and higher ayahuasca use correlated with better mental health. Women reported more adverse states but no worsened mental health.
February 14, 2022
Daniel Perkins, Simon Ruffell, Kimberley Day et al.
1 citation
preprint
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian brew containing harmala alkaloids and DMT, is increasingly used globally in traditional and neo-shamanic settings. This paper reviews existing literature and original data from the Global Ayahuasca Project, the largest cross-sectional study of ayahuasca drinkers, to propose a model of psychotherapeutic processes leading to mental health benefits. The model identifies five key processes: somatic effects; introspection and emotional processing; increased self-connection, value, and love; increased spiritual connection; and gaining insights and new perspectives. Differences from other classic psychedelics are noted, and the model aims to improve therapeutic use and optimize clinical treatment models.
Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
Vagner Deuel de O Tavares, Kaike Thiê da Costa Gonçalves, Maria Luiza de Morais Barros et al.
1 citation
A meta-analysis of eleven studies found no significant correlation between the psychoactive (psychomimetic) effects of ketamine and clinical outcomes in mental illness, including depression. The overall correlation was r = 0.06, and for depression specifically r = 0.03, both non-significant. Sub-analyses accounting for patient disorders, intravenous administration, assessment instruments, and timing also yielded no significant findings. High heterogeneity was present. The analysis suggests that altered states of consciousness during ketamine sessions are not directly linked to clinical outcomes, but the limited number of studies and heterogeneity make this conclusion preliminary.
Scientific reports
November 20, 2025
Daniel Perkins, Andreas Halman, Anna Urokohara et al.
Acute subjective experiences induced by psychedelics, particularly mystical experiences, are linked to therapeutic benefits such as reduced depression, anxiety, and addiction. This study assessed a purified encapsulated DMT-harmala alkaloid product in 17 dosing sessions with 9 healthy volunteers. Strong positive correlations were found between total dose and scores on mystical experience questionnaires (MEQ-30 and SIME). The formulation reliably produced intense subjective experiences, exceeding those reported in most naturalistic ayahuasca studies, and these experiences were robustly associated with beneficial persisting psychological effects. The findings suggest this formulation warrants further clinical trials to evaluate its therapeutic potential and safety.
Psychedelics as Psychiatric Medications
March 1, 2023
Daniel Perkins, Simon G. D. Ruffell, Jerome Sarris
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant brew from the Amazon basin, is made from the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and DMT-containing leaves like chacruna (Psychotria viridis). Its harmala alkaloids act as MAOIs, preventing DMT breakdown, while DMT modulates serotonin and dopamine signaling. Used for centuries by indigenous tribes for healing, recent research suggests effectiveness for depression, anxiety, and addiction. Interest has surged, with many 'ayahuasca tourists' seeking treatment, and clinical research raises ethical issues around medicalization.