Single DMT dose may ease treatment-resistant depression, small trial shows

A 34-person randomized trial reported in Nature Medicine found that one intravenous dose of DMT given with psychotherapy led to rapid reductions in depressive symptoms compared with placebo, with antidepressant effects lasting three to six months for some participants.

Researchers report that people with major depressive disorder showed rapid and sustained improvement after a single dose of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) when the drug was combined with psychotherapy. The result comes from a small randomized trial of 34 people with moderate to severe treatment-resistant depression, and the study was reported in Nature Medicine. Participants were split into two groups; one group received a single 21.5mg intravenous infusion of DMT over 10 minutes while the other received a placebo, and all participants had psychotherapy and follow-up assessments. The trial was designed, funded and sponsored by Cybin UK. Key findings: - The trial enrolled 34 people with moderate to severe treatment-resistant depression. - One group received a single 21.5mg DMT infusion over 10 minutes and the other received a placebo; all participants received psychotherapy and follow-up assessments. - Patients given DMT improved significantly compared with the placebo group on a standard depression questionnaire, with effects reported from three to six months for some participants. - In a second stage where all participants received DMT with therapy, researchers reported no additional benefit from a second dose, suggesting one dose may be sufficient in this study. - DMT is an active ingredient in the ayahuasca brew and typically produces a shorter, more intense experience (around 25 minutes) than psilocybin, which can last a couple of hours. - The study adds to other recent trials of psychedelics, and commentators note questions about how any approved treatments would be delivered and regulated, including whether they would be offered through private clinics. Summary: The trial provides preliminary evidence that a single DMT dose paired with psychotherapy produced rapid antidepressant effects in a small group of people with treatment-resistant depression. The results add to a growing set of studies on psychedelic-assisted therapy, and regulatory and clinical pathways for wider use are undetermined at this time.