Single Dose of DMT Rapidly Reduces Symptoms of Major Depression (sciencealert.com) 75
In a small double-blind clinical trial, a single intravenous dose of DMT produced rapid and clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms of major depressive disorder within a week, with effects lasting up to three months in some patients. "Unlike psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide ( LSD), whose effects can last for hours, intravenous DMT has a half-life of around five minutes," notes ScienceAlert. "Its psychedelic effects are correspondingly brief, potentially making it more practical to administer in clinical settings." From the report: "A single dose of DMT with psychotherapeutic support produced a rapid, significant reduction in depressive symptoms, sustained up to three months," writes a team led by neuroscientists David Erritzoe and Tommaso Barba of Imperial College London. [...] They recruited 34 participants with major depression and divided them into two groups of 17 for a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
In the first stage of the trial, one group received an intravenous dose of DMT, while the other received an active placebo. Neither the researchers nor the participants were informed which participants received the DMT. The doses took around 10 minutes to administer, and a therapist sat with each participant to ensure comfort and safety while the psychedelic effects were active, remaining silent throughout the treatment. The treatment was generally well tolerated. Most side effects were mild to moderate, and included nausea, temporary anxiety, and pain at the injection site. No serious adverse events related to the treatment were reported, although brief increases in heart rate and blood pressure were observed immediately after dosing.
In the second, open-label stage, two weeks after the first dose, all participants were given the opportunity to receive a dose of DMT. Participants were assessed before and at intervals after each dose using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Just a week after the first dose, participants who had received DMT had improved scores compared to the placebo group, and improvements were sustained during follow-up assessments.
Two weeks after the first dose, the participants who received DMT scored about seven points lower, on average, than those who received a placebo. On this commonly used clinical scale, a drop of that size is generally considered a meaningful reduction in symptom severity. There was no significant difference between patients who received one or two doses of DMT, suggesting a single dose may be sufficient. These effects persisted for up to three months, and some patients remained in remission for at least six months following the treatment. The findings have been published in Nature Medicine.
In the first stage of the trial, one group received an intravenous dose of DMT, while the other received an active placebo. Neither the researchers nor the participants were informed which participants received the DMT. The doses took around 10 minutes to administer, and a therapist sat with each participant to ensure comfort and safety while the psychedelic effects were active, remaining silent throughout the treatment. The treatment was generally well tolerated. Most side effects were mild to moderate, and included nausea, temporary anxiety, and pain at the injection site. No serious adverse events related to the treatment were reported, although brief increases in heart rate and blood pressure were observed immediately after dosing.
In the second, open-label stage, two weeks after the first dose, all participants were given the opportunity to receive a dose of DMT. Participants were assessed before and at intervals after each dose using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Just a week after the first dose, participants who had received DMT had improved scores compared to the placebo group, and improvements were sustained during follow-up assessments.
Two weeks after the first dose, the participants who received DMT scored about seven points lower, on average, than those who received a placebo. On this commonly used clinical scale, a drop of that size is generally considered a meaningful reduction in symptom severity. There was no significant difference between patients who received one or two doses of DMT, suggesting a single dose may be sufficient. These effects persisted for up to three months, and some patients remained in remission for at least six months following the treatment. The findings have been published in Nature Medicine.
Re: society is the cause of depression (Score:2)
Yes but the capitalist overlords need you to function enough so that they can replace you with AI. Somehow it makes sense.
Re: society is the cause of depression (Score:2)
We'll all be broke and jobless, then the billionaire class will have to hire AI to do their laundry and guard their many homes. Not sure how much their wealth will be worth if there is no consumption.
Quite the future these geniuses are building for us.
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Don't think of them as fat useless parasites, think of them as giant piggy banks for our future. Now bring me the hammer...
Re: society is the cause of depression (Score:2)
We live in a capitalist society, we have a few super wealthy persons who managed to rise extremely above everyone else. Calling them capitalist overlords is not exactly a stretch. You might be projecting something here but I'm unsure what.
Re:society is the cause of depression (Score:5, Insightful)
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The lack of hope is weighing heavily on a lot of younger people. They can't see a way to affording their own home, or children, or a retirement. The climate is getting worse and not nearly enough is being done about it. AI is coming for their McJob, and they had to take out a massive student loan just to get past the automated application filter when applying for it.
Mistakes were made, primarily the assumption that every generation from the Boomers onward would be larger than the last, and wealthier than th
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The lack of hope is weighing heavily on a lot of younger people. They can't see a way to affording their own home, or children, or a retirement.
People said the same thing in the early 1970's. The climate is getting worse and not nearly enough is being done about it. AI is coming for their McJob, and they had to take out a massive student loan just to get past the automated application filter when applying for it.
Joining the doomers, eh?
This is not to claim that there is nothing wrong in the world, there are lotsa problems, and we should work hard to fix them. But depression, or it's earlier name melancholia, has been with humanity since ancient
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>70's were the same
lol can't wait to cover my entire tuition with half a part-time paycheck
Is the only thing keeping you from being suicidal - tuition? It's a pity you didn't grow up in the 1970's, been drafted to fight in Vietnam, and come home missing a few limbs.
Back then we worked summer jobs to pay that tuition. Today you take out a loan, live off the loan. You have it soooo tough, weakling. Of course some things were different. You just aren't smart enough to know that. Embrace your loser status, you earned it. Oh, sorry, you spell it "looser."
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In the '70s, people were worried about the environment. But they were still able to buy a house, start a family, and afford (most) health care. Some were starting to worry that computers would take jobs.
Some took out loans for school, but working your way through school was still seen as a mostly debt-free option. Especially if you could get a scholarship.
The oil embargo certainly frightened a lot of people but it didn't leave them feeling totally helpless. They had the option of going to smaller and more e
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Some were starting to worry that computers would take jobs.
They were definitely worried that technology would take jobs.
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So this is great for the economy, right? Now you can put them on Ozempic, too. Yay!?
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I know a few people who were on industrial strength anti psychotics.. and they all gained a lot of weight, seemed to be a side effect ...
So this is great for the economy, right? Now you can put them on Ozempic, too. Yay!?
Their sex drive gets nuked too. They get tardive dyskinesia as well. Which is often permanent.
What I have trouble grokking is how easily we as people invest powerful drugs, and quite frankly, fuck ourselves up.
I hear many speak of Big Pharma like they are drug free, but gobbling dangerous meds like candy - I've come to the conclusion that they really really want to drug themselves to oblivion, a numbness they confuse with happiness, but want it free. There is serious depression. There is psychosis. Bu
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Marketing says focus on the benefits. People don't want to look like "losers" so they live with the side effects and don't talk about the bad side.
Software isn't any different than the drug industry! People use TikTok. Being surveilled by a foreign adversary? Bein
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I strongly suspect you're right about Ozempic, have read all manner of side effect horror stories .. but skinny models have a saying something like "being skinny is better than being hungry" ... sorry, I mangled that, but the sentiment is the same.
I'm guilty of liking slender women, and the wife is tall and naturally slender, but no. I definitely do not want the look that gives them. DDG or google Ozempic face. They might be un-naturally slender, but it kind of messes with their face too. Marketing says focus on the benefits. People don't want to look like "losers" so they live with the side effects and don't talk about the bad side.
Marketing is stupid, IMO. Meanwhile, I'm on no maintenance meds, unlike my peers, who are not at the point of using t
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Marketing is stupid, IMO. Meanwhile, I'm on no maintenance meds, unlike my peers, who are not at the point of using the little time of day and day of the week plastic pill cases. And seems like at least half of their meds are for the side effects of the others.
Jeebuz autocorrect is officially on my shit list. My peers are now at the point of using the "Old person" pill boxes.
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> Love it!!!
ha ha... yeah, that's practically my catchphrase now... I should put a registered trademark on that
feel free to use it though... I find when I try to explain various techie things, like networking or surveillance I just get blank faces... I realized fewer people than ever can think, or even perceive, abstract ideas... also, AI is draining brainpower, creating more illiterate people... so it's pure lowest common denominator now, punch (ang
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Modern society, bullshit jobs, city life, lack of exposrue to nature and the ever-present destruction of the planet... If you are not depressed, something is wrong with you.
We've heard all this before. It was called melancholia in ancient times. Your post reminds me of an old statement that insanity is the only sane response to society. Similar to your claim that anyone who isn't depressed has something wrong with them.
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I'm not saying depression did not exist before modern society. I'm saying there's endless reason for a lot more of it these days.
But you did that as a person who isn't depressed, there is something wrong with me. Your willingness to cast judgement on others who are perhaps not like you is not a good look.
Re:society is the cause of depression (Score:5, Insightful)
There are a lot of things in the news that make me feel upset, but at no time recently have I had to fight for my life or been cold or hungry. I think we have it pretty good compared to our ancestors.
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There are a lot of things in the news that make me feel upset, but at no time recently have I had to fight for my life or been cold or hungry. I think we have it pretty good compared to our ancestors.
Modern people especially, have been conditioned to be weak. That unless everything is perfect, that unless they are I a constant state oof euphoria, they are depressed, unable to look forward to life, possible considering ending their lives because of what. Poor Billy killed himself, because he couldn't afford a house. Sally jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge because she didn't have enough exposure to nature. Joey killed himself with drugs because he wasn't in management yet. His not said "My Job is bullshi
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There are a lot of things in the news that make me feel upset, but at no time recently have I had to fight for my life or been cold or hungry. I think we have it pretty good compared to our ancestors.
If those are the only benefits that exist to working together, then I choose not to work together. Your society is sick and troubled and absolutely destroys the lives of the bottom 10% to ensure that the top 1% live lives of debauchery and comfort.
Go ahead and settle for the bare minimum, as most of us are forced to do. I am done accepting the bare minimum. Either treat me, AND EVERYONE ELSE, fairly or fuck off.
Therapy vs medication (Score:2)
I'm not saying depression did not exist before modern society. I'm saying there's endless reason for a lot more of it these days.
DMT is for treatment-resistant depression...it's what you go to after therapy and medication fail. Society may be depressing, but that's treated with therapy, maybe more conventional medication. There are many routes to treating depression with rational causes. However, lots of people have depression that is purely biological in origin. I know a few personally and they're really suffering...and from what they and the rest of us can see, they have no reason to. They're the candidates for these new treat
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I'm not so sure DMT should be a last resort medication. It seems to be faster, longer lasting, lower in side effects, and it should be cheaper (since it isn't patented). I wouldn't suggest it instead of therapy, but it might make a good kickstart to therapy.
You're mistaking acute and clinical depression (Score:2)
Modern society, bullshit jobs, city life, lack of exposrue to nature and the ever-present destruction of the planet... If you are not depressed, something is wrong with you.
We've heard all this before. It was called melancholia in ancient times. Your post reminds me of an old statement that insanity is the only sane response to society. Similar to your claim that anyone who isn't depressed has something wrong with them.
Depression has many causes, often no external one. It sounds like. you're confusing sadness and acute depression. Clinical depression often has no rational cause. I have seen it in extended family members who are happy and successful one day and without external cause, can't get out of bed. Athletic women in great marriages with great careers and homes....2nd kid comes along in their mid-30s and they cannot function...no trauma, no sadness...just something ain't right biologically. Pills help for awhile
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Athletic women in great marriages with great careers and homes....2nd kid comes along in their mid-30s and they cannot function...no trauma, no sadness...just something ain't right biologically.
Boy, if only there were some medical reason for that example, perhaps something that causes a few massive and lasting hormonal shifts in fairly quick succession. (oh, you know, like becoming pregnant and giving birth or something)
The doctors thought of that (Score:2)
Athletic women in great marriages with great careers and homes....2nd kid comes along in their mid-30s and they cannot function...no trauma, no sadness...just something ain't right biologically.
Boy, if only there were some medical reason for that example, perhaps something that causes a few massive and lasting hormonal shifts in fairly quick succession. (oh, you know, like becoming pregnant and giving birth or something)
That's the first thing the doctors checked...you can check hormone levels and all the known ones were in typical range and consistent with past labs for the patient. If it was merely a progesterone/estrogen/thyroid issue, they could treat that pretty easily. There has to be some explanation on the biological level, but the doctors involved couldn't detect it...maybe modern science just can't yet....hence why alternative treatments are exciting....similar to GLP-1 drugs. Some patients can lose weight with
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Modern society, bullshit jobs, city life, lack of exposrue to nature and the ever-present destruction of the planet... If you are not depressed, something is wrong with you.
We've heard all this before. It was called melancholia in ancient times. Your post reminds me of an old statement that insanity is the only sane response to society. Similar to your claim that anyone who isn't depressed has something wrong with them.
Depression has many causes, often no external one. It sounds like. you're confusing sadness and acute depression. Clinical depression often has no rational cause. I have seen it in extended family members who are happy and successful one day and without external cause, can't get out of bed. Athletic women in great marriages with great careers and homes....2nd kid comes along in their mid-30s and they cannot function...no trauma, no sadness...just something ain't right biologically. Pills help for awhile until they stop working.
I had a friend like that in school. Good looking guy, funny, smart, dating the hot girl in high school. It changed overnight. They put him on meds, only worked a little. He ended up killing himself in his early thirties, a broken down alcoholic who was once on a success trajectory.
If people are just sad about the state of the world it typically has a fairly clear cause and started early in life. Those people need therapy...and that's almost always the first step.
I agree. But that isn't the first step very often these days.
Treatment resistant depression is typically not correlated with external events and seems biological in nature. Those are the people who need DMT. Everything you described are things you see a therapist about, not a psychiatrist.
I might as well give my personal experience, forgive the oversharing. Around the first decade of this century, wife and I were in a rather stressful situation. Lost all
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Modern society, bullshit jobs, city life, lack of exposrue to nature and the ever-present destruction of the planet... If you are not depressed, something is wrong with you.
The depression doesn't come from the causes.
The depression weighs over the fact that the very few who are actually awake enough to see the problems, can do NOTHING about it. Not even with the most obvious problems. The mentally ill tore down the asylum and demanded society accept them. Or else.
Considerable change has to occur within the average mindset. Problem is average is becoming very stupid. And ill.
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Considerable change has to occur within the average mindset
What mindset has to change? Your comments are too vague. [xkcd.com]
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Society is the cause of depression
That is way too vague. Not everything in society is bad, on average it is probably good.
So I will tell you a specific thing in society that causes depression: sometimes managers think that if you are happy, you are not working hard. They have no competence or ability to recognize if their underlings are doing good work, so they use the heuristic that if you are happy, you are not working hard. Obviously as a heuristic it's poor.
Then these managers start treating everyone like their underlings, including
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Indeed it often is (Score:2)
I wonder why that got downvoted. In its core, it is not wrong. It's just not completely true, either, and as someone who's already had depressive episodes which kept me unable to work for weeks or even months, I wouldn't agree to the suggestion that we should refrain from administering antidepressants...
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You cannot cure that with a pill.
No, but you can provide profit to another of the overlords by pretending a pill will cure it, and maybe feeling a tiny little less shit in the process. Or at least faking yourself out and learning how to chemically ignore the pain.
Re: society is the cause of depression (Score:2)
It's certainly a factor.
There's are many factors, including physical and electro- and bio-chemical factors.
Some of these factor are treatable. Some, like society, aren't.
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I think it's more that in past centuries, people didn't know what to call depression, and didn't realize that it was an actual disease. They just thought people were "demon-possessed" or "not right in the head." Today, we are learning a lot about depression and starting to recognize it for what it is, and learn ways to treat it.
Omitted context (Score:5, Informative)
For those, like me, who were crying out for the summary to say what DMT is, it's the main active psychedelic of ayahuasca.
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Re:Omitted context (Score:5, Informative)
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For those, like me, who were crying out for the summary to say what DMT is, it's the main active psychedelic of ayahuasca.
Admittedly I've no idea what that is until I googled it, not exactly something you'd commonly find in Australia or even the UK...
However it joins a long history of psychedelics and other mild narcotics in being quite effective in treating depression. However drugs like marijuana, LSD and likely this one are outright banned in favour of harder drugs to treat depression and other illnesses because drugs are baaaaad MKaaaay.
Hopefully with American power waning, the war on drugs well and truly lost, other
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https://www.wired.com/story/mi... [wired.com]
There too (Score:2)
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Another benefit (Score:5, Informative)
Controlled Expectations. (Score:2)
Unlike ayahuasca, DMT is not nearly as likely to make you vomit.
From what I've read, DMT has quite varied effects based on the amount. And probably the source, since DMT is present in many natural sources.
As far as the vomiting, let's be a little more honest. Trying to compare a DMT study done in a controlled environment with known dosages to the average ayahuasca trip is a bit like comparing a professional medical autopsy in a hospital to roadkill. Results may vary? No shit. The drunk guy who introduced you to the ayahuasca sommelier living in a tent was just diggi
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no way to make a double blind trial (Score:5, Interesting)
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Re: no way to make a double blind trial (Score:2)
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The problem with studying drugs like these is that the effects are so profound that there's no way to achieve a proper double blind trial. It looks like they went through the motions but it would be staggeringly obvious to anyone in the room whether DMT or placebo was given.
If you're looking for an effective placebo effect in a drug study, bring in the known control group.
Teenagers will lie about anything to fit in.
And besides, if we're looking for profound results of DMT vs. the alternatives, take a look at overdoses and deaths from traditional "solutions" for depression and many other issues plaguing society today. You'll find a rather glaring reason to question why the hell DMT was ever limited by the DEA at Schedule I, preventing any legal Federal funding to study for med
Do you want to stay tripping or stay sad ? (Score:2)
I hope we can quickly find those chemicals.
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Tripping only occurs when somebody uses too much of these drugs. In the tiny doses used for such trials, there is no tripping.
Side Effects? (Score:1)
Re: Side Effects? (Score:3)
In my mid-sized city alone, a quick Google search shows at least 7 different licensed clinics currently administrating it.
DMT has a half-life of around five minutes (Score:2)
Thatâ(TM)s why they call it âoethe business tripâ
There are vapes now, too.
sources (Score:2)
Are these sources for DMT the equivalent of quoting High Times when debating pro marijuana use? Showing my age!
Unfortunately... (Score:4, Funny)
it doesn't cure the *cause* of the major depression... when that's the (alleged) Real World.
but (Score:3)
Single dose of DMT reduces depression. Unfortunately, also causes insanity.
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Another one (Score:2)
Percussive maintenance (Score:2)
For the exact same reason DMT can cause a lasting psychosis with a 5 minute half life, it can affect depression. For the same reason as electroshock therapy too.
Give the brain a big whollop, hope everything settles down in place a bit better, hope you don't break anything ... then pretend you know what you are doing.