Single dose of powerful psychedelic reduces symptoms of depression in clinical study
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A new study found that a single dose of psychedelics significantly reduced symptoms in people with major depressive disorder.
The clinical trial was led by researchers at Imperial College London, where the team found that participants with depression who took the psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT) had greater reductions in the severity of their condition compared to those who took a placebo.
DMT is a natural psychedelic, similar to compounds found in “magic mushrooms” and serotonin, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. It is known to produce brief, intense hallucinations.
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The compound, found in a variety of plants and animals, is the psychoactive ingredient in the drug ayahuasca, the source cited said.
To prepare ayahuasca, a plant containing DMT is boiled with another plant containing a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as harmaline, and the resulting infusion is then consumed.
DMT, found in a variety of plants and animals, is the psychoactive ingredient in the drug ayahuasca. (iStock)
Over the past decade, studies have hinted at DMT’s potential as a treatment for depression, but there haven’t been many placebo-controlled clinical trials.
“DMT probably works for depression by snapping you out of your downward spiral while also altering brain chemistry in a way that promotes the release of hormones, especially serotonin, but also dopamine,” Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at News, who was not involved in the study, told News Digital.
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Thirty-four patients with moderate to severe depression and a history of at least two failed treatments were enrolled in the new trial. Half of the patients received a single intravenous placebo over 10 minutes, while the other half received a 21.5 mg dose of DMT.
Symptom severity was measured before and after treatment using a standardized questionnaire called the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), according to the news release.
Patients were supported through various therapeutic approaches during the trial. (iStock)
Two weeks after the initial dose, the DMT group showed less severity of symptoms compared to the placebo group. Six months later, some participants reported that the antidepressant effects were still present.
“These results add to the growing body of evidence about the great potential of psychedelic therapies in mental health disorders,” David Erritzoe, PhD, lead author of the study at Imperial College London, said in the release. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.
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No serious adverse events were reported, although there were some limitations. There was a lack of ethnic diversity in the study, and the researchers noted that participants with a history of serious suicide attempts were excluded.
“It doesn’t seem to be addictive,” Siegel said of DMT. “The problem is that many people are taking microdoses of ayahuasca and I am against it because it has unpredictable responses.”
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The researchers also noted that the effectiveness of DMT appears to depend on the intensity of the actual psychedelic experience it generates, which varies from person to person.
“This is a trial that is in the early phase of specific development of DMT therapy for depression, so larger trials are required as next steps,” Erritzoe told News Digital.
The lead researcher suggests that while DMT still has a ways to go before becoming a widely available treatment, ketamine therapy is a more accessible method to consider. (iStock)
Erritzoe noted that it is currently difficult to access DMT treatments outside of trials because the research is still ongoing.
“For people who suffer from depression and have not seen sufficient improvement with existing treatments, ketamine-assisted therapy, done thoughtfully with good therapists involved, is a great alternative while the next line of treatments continues to be tested and considered for regulatory approval,” he said.
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The evidence for the potential effectiveness of ketamine-assisted therapy for depression is much greater than that of DMT, the researcher noted.
There isn’t much regulation on how ketamine treatments are administered, Dr. Justin Gerstner, a psychiatrist and medical director at Ellie Mental Health in Minnesota, previously told News Digital, as the drug was initially approved for anesthetic use.
Some of the risks of ketamine include high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, amnesia, seizures, addiction, problems with judgment and coordination, and a lower urinary tract irritation called ulcerative cystitis, according to the American Addiction Centers website. (iStock)
“The countryside is wide open and it’s a little bit like the Wild West,” he said. “This is a really powerful medication and the way it is used can vary dramatically.”
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At high doses, the drug can cause adverse health problems that affect cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological function, which can be fatal, as noted on the American Addiction Centers website.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.