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Psychedelics Show Promise for Depression Relief
19 Feb
Summary
- A new study found DMT significantly reduced depression symptoms.
- The trial involved 34 patients with moderate to severe depression.
- Antidepressant effects of DMT were still present six months later.
A groundbreaking clinical trial has demonstrated the potential of dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring psychedelic, in treating major depressive disorder. Researchers from Imperial College London conducted a placebo-controlled study involving 34 patients diagnosed with moderate to severe depression who had not responded to previous treatments.
The trial involved administering a single intravenous dose of either DMT or a placebo. Results indicated that participants who received DMT showed a significant reduction in depression severity, as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.
Remarkably, the antidepressant effects persisted for some individuals up to six months after the initial dose. While the study, published in Nature Medicine, showed no serious adverse events, researchers noted limitations such as a lack of ethnic diversity and exclusion of participants with a history of severe suicide attempts.
Experts suggest DMT may work by disrupting depressive thought spirals and altering brain chemistry to promote beneficial hormone release. Although access to DMT treatments outside of trials is currently limited, the study marks an important step in developing psychedelic therapies for mental health.
