Major symptoms of depression were relieved by psychedelics in a new clinical trial

The clinical trial was led by researchers at Imperial College London, where the team found that depressed participants who took the psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT) had a greater reduction in the severity of their condition compared to those who took a placebo.

DMT is a natural psychedelic, similar to compounds found in “magic mushrooms” and serotonin, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. It is known to produce Brief and intense hallucinations.

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The compound found in A A variety of plants And animals, which is the psychoactive component of ayahuasca, according to the source above.

To prepare ayahuasca, a plant containing DMT is boiled with another plant containing a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as harmaline, and the resulting brew is then consumed.

DMT, found in a variety of plants and animals, is the psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca. (Istock)

Over the past decade, studies have pointed to the potential of DMT as a treatment for depression, but there have not been many placebo-controlled studies. Clinical trials.

“It’s possible that DMT works to treat depression by pulling you out of a downward spiral and at the same time changing your brain chemistry in a way that promotes the release of hormones, especially serotonin, but also dopamine,” Dr. Mark Siegel, Fox News’ chief medical analyst, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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Thirty-four patients Moderate to severe depression A history of at least two unsuccessful treatments was recorded in the new trial. Half of the patients received a single placebo administered intravenously over 10 minutes, while the other half received a 21.5 mg dose of DMT.

Symptom severity was measured before and after treatment using a standardized questionnaire called the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the press release stated.

Patients were supported with different therapeutic approaches during the trial. (Istock)

Two weeks after the initial dose, the DMT group showed lower symptom severity compared to the placebo group. After six months, some participants reported that Antidepressant effects They were still there.

“These findings add nicely to the growing body of evidence of the great potential of psychedelic treatments in mental health disorders,” David Erezwe, Ph.D., the study’s lead author at Imperial College London, said in the statement. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

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No serious adverse events have been reported, although there are some limitations. The researchers noted that there was a lack of racial diversity in the study, and participants with a history of serious suicide attempts were excluded.

“It doesn’t appear To be addictive“The problem is that a lot of people are microdosing ayahuasca, and I’m against that because it has unpredictable responses,” said DMT’s Siegel.

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The researchers also noted that the effectiveness of DMT appears to depend on the intensity of the actual psychedelic experience it generates, which varies from person to person.

“This is an early-stage trial in the development of DMT specifically for depression, so larger trials are needed as next steps,” Eritzoe told Fox News Digital.

The lead researcher notes that although DMT still has a long way to go before it becomes a widely available treatment, ketamine therapy is an accessible method to consider. (Istock)

Irizzo noted that it is currently difficult to access DMT treatments outside of trials because the research is still ongoing.

“For people who have depression and haven’t received enough improvement from it Existing treatments“Ketamine-assisted therapy, done in a thoughtful way with the involvement of quality therapists, is a great alternative while the next line of treatments are further tested and considered for regulatory approval,” he said.

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The researcher noted that the evidence for the potential effectiveness of ketamine-assisted therapy in treating depression is much greater than the drug DMT.

There hasn’t been a lot of regulation surrounding how ketamine treatments are administered, Dr. Justin Gerstner, a psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Ellie Mental Health in Minnesota, told Fox News Digital, since the drug was initially approved for use. Use of anesthesia.

Some risks of ketamine include high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, memory loss, seizures, addiction, problems with judgment and coordination, and irritation of the lower urinary tract called ulcerative cystitis, according to the Addiction Centers of America website. (Istock)

“The field is wide open, and it’s kind of like the Wild West,” he said. “This is a really powerful drug, and the way it is used can vary greatly.”

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At high doses, the drug can cause adverse health problems affecting cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous system functions, which can be fatal, as stated on the American Addiction Centers website.