A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests that a single dose of the psychedelic substance DMT may help people with treatment-resistant depression. According to the research, 35 percent of participants who received intravenous DMT had their depression symptoms halved after two weeks, compared to 12 percent in the placebo group.
The study involved 34 adults who were given either DMT or a placebo. DMT is a hallucinogenic substance found in the psychoactive plant brew ayahuasca. Depression researcher Mikael Tiger, a senior physician and docent in psychiatry at Karolinska Institutet who researches psilocybin for depression, called the results "exciting" but noted some limitations.
After two weeks there is better effect with DMT than placebo, but one would like to know how long the difference lasts
"After two weeks there is better effect with DMT than placebo, but one would like to know how long the difference lasts," Tiger said, according to reports. He welcomed studies targeting people with treatment-resistant depression, noting that while many are helped by psychotherapy or medication, not all respond to conventional treatments.
Tiger pointed out that intravenous DMT produces a much shorter psychedelic experience than psilocybin, lasting only minutes instead of hours, which could make it easier to administer in healthcare settings. However, he expressed concern about the study design, particularly that all participants were offered DMT two weeks after the first dose, which he said compromises long-term scientific comparison.
He welcomed studies targeting people with treatment-resistant depression, noting that while many are helped by psychotherapy or medication, not all respond to conventional treatments
The research is described as a Phase II study, with the authors noting that more and larger studies are needed to further investigate the effects.
Tiger pointed out that intravenous DMT produces a much shorter psychedelic experience than psilocybin, lasting only minutes instead of hours, which could make it easier to administer in healthcare settings
However, he expressed concern about the study design, particularly that all participants were offered DMT two weeks after the first dose, which he said compromises long-term scientific comparison