Single Dose of DMT Rapidly Reduces Symptoms of Major Depression : ScienceAlert

Single Dose of DMT Shows Promise for Rapid Depression Relief in Groundbreaking Trial

A small but groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed that a single dose of the psychedelic compound dimethyltryptamine (DMT) may offer rapid and sustained relief for people suffering from major depressive disorder — especially those who have not responded to traditional treatments.

The study, conducted by neuroscientists at Imperial College London and published in Nature Medicine, involved 34 participants diagnosed with moderate-to-severe depression. None had found adequate relief from standard therapies such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Participants were randomly assigned to two groups in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. One group received a single intravenous dose of DMT, while the other received an active placebo. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received which treatment.

Unlike longer-acting psychedelics such as psilocybin or LSD, DMT’s effects are

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