Associations Between Ayahuasca Use in Naturalistic Settings and Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes: Analysis of a Large Global Dataset.
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.