| Study |
# of doses |
Method of administration |
Length of study |
Depression scale used |
Number of people |
Result |
| Van Oorsouw K et al. (2022) [8] |
1 |
Mimosa hostilis + Peganum harmala + Banisteriopsis muricata; caapi + Peganum harmala + Mimosa hostilis |
1 year |
Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) |
20 participants with clinical depression (>13 on BDI) |
BDI depression scores significantly reduced over time, with 71% in remission |
| Sarris J et al. (2021) [25] |
Variable, self-reported |
Variable, self-reported |
2017-2020 (Global Ayahuasca Project) |
Kessler-10 (K-10) Psychological Distress Scale. Participants were asked if they had been diagnosed by a health professional with depression or anxiety. Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety |
11,912; 1,580 with depression |
94% believed that their depression had improved either ‘a bit’ (15%), ‘very much’ (46%), or was ‘completely resolved’ (32%) due to their consumption of the brew |
| Palhano-Fontes F et al. (2019) [11] |
1 |
Single ayahuasca batch prepared and provided free of charge by a branch of the Barquinha church based in Brazil. Harmine + Harmaline + Tetrahydroharmine |
1 week |
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) |
29 |
Evidence of rapid antidepressant effect after a single dosing session with ayahuasca when compared with placebo |
| Zeifman RJ et al. (2019) [26] |
1 |
Harmine + Harmaline + Tetrahydroharmine |
1 week |
Referral from outpatient psychiatric units and advertisement. Interested participants received a full clinical assessment by a psychiatrist in order to determine eligibility |
29 |
No statistical decrease in suicidal ideation in the treatment group. Decreases in non-suicide-related depressive symptoms were greater than those found for suicidality |
| Rossi GN et al. (2022) [17] |
1 |
A single batch of ayahuasca was prepared by a branch of the Barquinha church. Harmine + Harmaline + Tetrahydroharmine |
2 days |
MADRS & HAM-D |
Treatment-resistant depression patients (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 45) |
Reductions of C-reactive protein (CRP) and lower depressive symptoms at 48 hours after substance ingestion. No correlation of IL-6 with decreased depressive symptoms. Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) correlated with less depressive symptoms |
| De Almeida RN et al. (2019) [18] |
1 |
A single batch of ayahuasca was prepared by a branch of the Barquinha church. Harmine + Harmaline + Tetrahydroharmine |
2 days |
Selected patients were in a current moderate to severe depressive episode at screening by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D≥17) and MADRS |
71 participants (Healthy control = 43, and muscular dystrophy patients = 28) |
Basal hypocortisolemia and in patients with treatment-resistant depression, compared to healthy controls. Depressive patients who took ayahuasca had higher levels of cortisol (normal in healthy control) than placebo |
