Comparing ayahuasca and esketamine effects on women's body perception

Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca or Esketamine on Body Image Perception in Women: a Randomized, Double-blind Study

NA · University of Sao Paulo · NCT07317219

This will test whether a single oral dose of ayahuasca or esketamine changes how healthy women perceive their bodies.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexFemale
SponsorUniversity of Sao Paulo (other)
Locations1 site (Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo)
Trial IDNCT07317219 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a double-blind, randomized trial that gives a single oral dose of either ayahuasca or esketamine to healthy female volunteers and compares changes in body-image perception. Participants are screened to exclude psychiatric and other medical comorbidities and are monitored at Hospital das Clínicas da FMRP-USP in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Outcomes will focus on perceptual and self-report measures of body image collected before and after dosing to capture acute effects. The design aims to isolate drug-specific effects on body perception while minimizing confounding from underlying illness.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy adult women without psychiatric or significant medical conditions who can travel to and attend in-person sessions at the study site are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People with psychiatric or other medical comorbidities, men, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those unwilling to receive psychoactive treatments are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could reveal rapid-acting ways to alter body perception and inform new approaches for treating body-image disturbances.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows ketamine and classical psychedelics can rapidly change perception and mood, but direct randomized comparisons of ayahuasca and esketamine on body-image perception are novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* healthy volunteers

Exclusion Criteria:

* psychiatric and other medical comorbidities

Where this trial is running

Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Healthy Women Volunteers

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.