DMT Trial Shows Rapid Relief in Treatment-Resistant Depression

A new clinical trial has shown that a single dose of the psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, can rapidly reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder in adults who have not responded to prior treatments. Researchers at Imperial College London reported the findings from a small phase IIa study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, indicating sustained improvements lasting up to three months for most participants and six months for some.

The trial involved 34 participants, aged 18 and older, diagnosed with moderate to severe depression for an average of 10.5 years. All had unsuccessfully tried at least two conventional treatments, such as antidepressants or psychotherapy. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, history of serious suicide attempts, recent use of serotonergic psychedelics, or personal or family history of psychosis.

Conducted at London hospitals, the study was divided into two stages. In the first, double-blind stage, participants were randomly assigned to receive either an intravenous infusion of 21.5 milligrams of DMT over 10 minutes or a placebo. Both groups received psychotherapeutic support, including preparatory sessions, therapist-monitored...