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According to the second phase of a cutting-edge trial, Ayahuasca, the most powerful psychedelic known to man, could treat depression in a single dose received intravenously in some people.
Often associated with the hippie movement, the recreational experience or addictive consumption, psychedelic substances nevertheless have an interest in medicine, particularly in the treatment of mental health.
Surprising effectiveness in cases of major depression
As such, NN-dymethyltriptamine (DMT), a powerful psychedelic derived from Ayahuasca, an Amazonian plant widely used by tribal societies in the Amazon basin, is being studied by a Canadian biotechnology company for its effects on depression. The second phase of his study was made public on January 25 with surprising conclusions: in some cases, the psychedelic would overcome depression with a single dose.
DMT is the natural psychedelic in ayahuasca, a potent brew widely used by tribal societies in the Amazon Basin, where it is considered a plant of “wisdom” that allows entry into the spiritual realm. DMT and ayahuasca are part of a wave of psychedelics, along with psilocybin mushrooms and ketamine.
57% of participants are depression free after 3 months
The study, the second phase of which was published this month, involved 34 male and female participants with moderate or severe depression. In the first part of the trial, 17 participants received 21.5 mg of DMT (about half a smoking dose) via IV over 10 minutes. Administration of the substance induced a 20-30 minute psychedelic experience, followed by a therapy session immediately afterwards to help them come to terms with what they had been through.
The other 17 patients received only a placebo treatment.
Independent reviewers then rated people’s depression using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at the start of the trial and then one, two and 12 weeks later, without knowing what treatment had been received.
- Two weeks after receiving the treatment, the depression scores of the DMT group were 7.4 points lower than those of the placebo group, showing a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared to placebo;
- Three months after receiving treatment, symptoms had further abated – the total mean reduction in MADRS scores after one dose of DMT was 15.4 points;
- Six out of ten of those who received a single dose of DMT were also declared depression-free three months later. This was defined as having a MADRS score of ten or less.
An alternative for patients resistant to existing antidepressants?
For Dr David Erritzoe, a clinical psychiatrist at Imperial College London and the study’s lead researcher, the finding is significant:
“The results are exciting for the field of psychiatry. We now have the first evidence that DMT, combined with supportive therapy, can be effective for people with Major Depressive Disorder. For patients who are unfortunate enough to derive little benefit from existing antidepressants, the potential for rapid and lasting relief from a single treatment, as shown in this trial, is very promising.”
Until now, the therapeutic benefits of DMT have been outweighed by the risks of lasting negative effects on mental health. But according to emerging scientific details on the subject, DMT would cause increased levels of monoamine utilization in the amygdala, which would increase the intensity of memories. It is also said to increase blood flow to the insula, which may be responsible for improving self-understanding.
According to the researchers, this could make therapy more effective because people can face their trauma with less fear.
Results still to be confirmed
However, be careful not to go too fast, this study has not been published in a scientific journal but these results come directly from the biotech which seeks to market its treatment. The number of patients remains small. It will therefore be necessary for these results to be confirmed within the framework of a larger study and published before we really know if this psychedelic substance represents a real advance in the face of depression and major forms of depression.