Summary: New study demonstrates how much on ayahuasca’s long-term mental health outcomes are influenced by personal mental health background and the atmosphere in which it is consumed. While the kaleidoscopic has shown promise for reducing anxiety and depression, users who have pre-existing conditions or those who live in oppressive, non-traditional settings were more likely to experience negative emotional states like hopelessness and connection.
Ironically, some bad experiences, such as physical distortions, were later linked to positive outcomes, suggesting that so-called undesirable effects may have therapeutic value. The study, which analyzed data from over 10,000 people, emphasizes the value of friendly, cult-like, and spiritually significant environments to maximize benefits and minimize injury.
Important Information:
- Context Matters: When used in sympathetic, traditional party settings, ayahuasca’s mental health benefits are more likely to be present.
- People with histories of anxiety or depression reported more bad mental states after using, though not all of them were dangerous long-term.
- negative vs. Healing: Some “adverse” effects, such as visual distortions, were later linked to better mental health, giving the impression that they might serve therapeutic purposes.
PLOS One is the cause.
According to a study published on April 30, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health, it is clear that ayahuasca’s potential to improve mental wellbeing is influenced by both the individual’s mental health history and the environment in which it is used. Daniel Perkins from the University of Melbourne and Swinburne University are also the authors of a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health.
Ayahuasca, a kaleidoscopic medicine used by indigenous populations in South America, has attracted more and more attention from Western scientists and professionals because of its possible mental health benefits, but its risks and negative effects are still unexplored.
More severe mental states were reported after ayahuasca use, according to José Carlos Bouso, Andión, and other researchers who conducted a past review of adverse effects reported in a worldwide survey of ayahuasca service attendees.
Interestingly, potential negative effects were reported in the range of “feeling down, depressed, or hopeless,” “feeling disconnected or alone,” and “feeling vigorously attacked.”  ,
The authors ‘ new analysis used machine learning and traditional statistical techniques to analyze the same data in order to better understand the influencing factors that influence the relationship between adverse events and ayahuasca customers ‘ mental health outcomes.
10, 836 people took part in the survey, of which 5, 400 had accurate information. 14.2 % of them had a prior history of anxiety, and 19.7 % had a prior history of depression.
Although the World Ayahuasca Survey reveals a sizable, diverse community of users, it was deliberate and could be administered years later, introducing self-selection and recall biases.  ,
The researchers discovered that those who had a history of anxiety or depression as well as those who used ayahuasca in non-traditional settings were more likely to record negative emotional states following use.
However, some “adverse effects” like visible errors were linked to significantly better mental health outcomes, as reported in the present study.
But, adverse effects like “feeling over,” “feeling disconnected,” and “feeling vigorously attacked” were linked to longer-term poorer mental wellbeing in participants.
The authors note that “adverse” effects of ayahuasca may be personal, and that the environment in which it is used, as well as factors like time and mental health history, effect whether an adult experiences mental benefits following an psychedelic experience.  ,
Their findings appear to suggest that using ayahuasca under the guidance of experienced users who can offer extra support to those who have a history of depression, who might otherwise be at a higher risk of negative outcomes, would be more beneficial.
They argue that ayahuasca is most frequently consumed in class or group options while psychedelics are becoming more biomedical. Future studies may so look at the effects of ayahuasca use in these social real-world settings.  ,
What stood out to us the most was the major difference in psychological health outcomes between people who used supportive environments and those who didn’t, according to Dr. José Carlos Bouso.
This emphasizes the value of providing those seeking psilocybin in a dependable and well-prepared environment.
Our research shows that the post-ayahuasca emotional state, typically seen as negative, can lead to improved mental wellbeing, especially in people with previous anxiety and depressive disorders.
This suggests that these claims as possible valuable experiences need to be more nuanced.
Further citations:
On the method of research:
The findings from the Global Ayahuasca Survey ( GAS ) gave rise to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex connection between ayahuasca use and mental health outcomes. It was particularly interesting to observe how setting, preparation, and integration practices play a significant role in shaping the overall experience” ( Dr. José Carlos Bouso ).
Ayahuasca and its use:
According to the article,” Ayahuasca use, when experienced in secure, supportive environments, may provide medical benefits, especially for people with a history of feeling disorders,” which emphasizes the significance of the event’s setting and the role of the ceremony’s facilitators.
On the part of faith,  
Our research even points out that ayahuasca ceremonies ‘ moral value prevents negative emotional state like anxiety, depression, and separation, thereby improving overall mental health.
About this information about emotional health and psychiatry
Publisher: Charlotte Bhaskar
Source: PLOS
Contact: Charlotte Bhaskar – PLOS
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Open access to original analysis
José Carlos Bouso and al.,” A new insight into ayahuasca’s adverse effects: Reanalysis and perspectives on its mediating role in mental health from the Global Ayahuasca Survey ( GAS ). PLOS Psychiatric Health
Abstract
Review and perspectives on its controlling part in mental health: a fresh insight into ayahuasca’s negative effects
Ayahuasca is a tea that is indigenous to the Amazon, where it is a significant component of conventional medicine in many regional nations, and has expanded internationally over the past ten years.
Ayahuasca has even piqued the interest of professionals because of its probable advantages for mental health, but its negative effects are not well understood.
We analyzed information from the Global Ayahuasca Survey, which included 10 836 individuals who had predetermined negative effects.
Data were gathered between March 1st, 2017, and December 31st, 2019, and were analyzed on November 30th, 2021.
Just DP and JJS had admittance to recognizable member information. The 12-Item Short Form Survey ( SF-12 ) was used to examine the relationship between sample characteristics, post-ayahuasca adverse mental states, and mental health outcomes.
Among participants, 14.2 % ( 767 ) had a prior anxiety disorder and 19.7 % ( 1, 064 ) a depressive disorder. Despite this, the SF-12 report, which was close to the common people, was 50.16.
After using psilocybin, a record of anxiety or depression was linked to more negative emotional states.
Better mental health was also correlated with more frequent “visual distortions” and higher psychedelic use. People reported worsened mental health, but they did not report worsened state.
In kaleidoscopic research, the classification of negative emotional states should be reexamined because some experiences that have traditionally been labeled as negative properly contribute to long-term mental benefits.
In what ways does the context in which these experiences take place and how personal factors affect their outcomes, both positively and negatively, affect these states.
Understanding these interactions is crucial to enhancing harm reduction strategies and improving healing potential. Individuals with a history of depression need special attention because they are more susceptible to post-ayahuasca negative emotional states and may need more mental support.
