Long-term effects of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a 5-year qualitative follow-up

Ayahuasca, a botanical hallucinogenic preparation containing β-carboline alkaloids and DMT, was well tolerated by patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder in an open-label trial. Symptom reductions lasted only a few weeks, but most patients considered the experience among the most important of their lives, even 4 to 7 years later. This is the first long-term follow-up of a clinical sample from an ayahuasca trial, suggesting that while acute antidepressant effects are short-lived, the subjective significance endures.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Background Ayahuasca is a botanical hallucinogenic preparation traditionally used by indigenous populations of Northwestern Amazonian countries for ritual and therapeutic purposes. It is rich in β-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Preclinical, observational, and experimental studies suggest that ayahuasca and its alkaloids have anxiolytic and antidepressive effects. We recently reported in an open-label trial that ayahuasca administration was associated with significant decreases in depression symptoms for 2-3 weeks after the experimental session in 17 patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Objectives To investigate if the experiment had any long-lasting effects on patients Methods Eight patients were interviewed 4 to 7 years after ayahuasca intake. Results Our results suggest that ayahuasca was well tolerated and that symptom reductions were limited to a few weeks. Importantly, most patients believed that the experience was among the most important of their lives, even 4-7 years later. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first long-term follow-up of a clinical sample that participated in an ayahuasca trial. Further studies with different and repeated dosing should be designed to further explore the antidepressive and anxiolytic effects of ayahuasca.