People who attended an ayahuasca retreat reported lasting increases in gratitude, feeling connected to nature, and appreciating nature. Surveys of 54 participants taken one week before, one week after, and one month after the retreat showed significant improvements at both follow-ups compared to baseline. The intensity of mystical-type experiences and awe during ayahuasca sessions weakly to moderately correlated with these increases, while the number of ceremonies attended did not. Older participants reported less intense mystical and awe experiences. The findings suggest that the quality of psychedelic experiences, particularly mystical and awe states, may foster prosocial changes in gratitude and nature connection.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining interest for treating mental health conditions in adolescents, but safe and effective delivery requires careful consideration of caregiver involvement. Caregivers are essential in adolescent mental health treatment, supporting recovery and disrupting illness-maintaining patterns, while also needing resources to manage caregiving challenges. This review synthesizes evidence from adolescent mental health treatments, PAT best practices, and family systems theory to propose a framework for integrating caregivers into adolescent PAT. The family system is a critical setting that may shape PAT efficacy, analogous to the therapeutic setting (set and setting). Recommendations are provided for incorporating caregivers into PAT protocols to maximize safety and efficacy.