Research library / Clinical trial
Effects of DMT on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers
Timmermann C, Zeifman RJ, Erritzoe D, et al. Scientific Reports 2024;14(1):3097
This study looked at whether intravenous DMT, a psychedelic whose effects last minutes rather than hours, shifts mental health measures. It drew on two small groups of healthy volunteers: 13 who received several doses of DMT and a saline placebo, and 17 assessed before and two weeks after a 20 mg dose. In both groups, self-rated depression scores were lower one to two weeks after DMT. Bigger drops in depression and anxiety went with more intense peak experiences during the drug effect. Participants were healthy, not depressed, the samples were small and follow-up was short, so this does not show that DMT treats depression. The authors argue that DMT's short action could make psychedelic sessions more practical, and say trials in patients are needed.
What it found
- In both datasets, depression scores (QIDS-SR16) were significantly lower 1 to 2 weeks after DMT.
- Trait neuroticism fell significantly only in the placebo-controlled sample.
- Changes in depression and trait anxiety correlated with the strength of acute peak experiences ('oceanic boundlessness').