One week after the initial dose, only 6 percent of the control group (that is, two individuals) reported improvement in their depression symptoms. In contrast, about half (44 percent) of those who received DMT felt better. While the effects had begun to wane by the 14-week time point, this population was still faring better than when things started.
Participants in the control group, who received only one dose and took two weeks into the study, showed an interesting trajectory. Through some combination of the placebo effect and the counseling everyone received, their symptoms improved slightly in the first two weeks. But then they improved significantly after the DMT dose and by the end of the study they were somewhat better.
There were no serious side effects after treatment, and those that were less-serious were short-lived, such as a slight pain at the injection site. There were also very brief increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
promising start
A big question about psychedelics is whether their hallucinogenic effects and their antidepressant effects are separate. There are certainly indications that the two act through different mechanisms. But this study suggests that this may not be the case with DMT. “Antidepressant effects were observed two weeks after participants’ first active DMT dose as measured by their ‘Mystic Experiences’ Questionnaire (MEQ) scores, as well as the Ego Dissolution Inventory,” the authors note.
None of this is to say that DMT will be the right solution for everyone—we need to wait for a larger trial and longer follow-up to get a sense of its effectiveness. And it’s important to note that this study administered it as part of the usual care plan. Nevertheless, it is promising as a drug, as its apparently brief duration of mental alteration has a significant effect on clinical depression, while also greatly simplifying care for those receiving the drug.
Given that many people do not respond to traditional antidepressants, anything that provides additional options would be welcomed.
Naturopathy, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-04154-z (About DOI).
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