A small trial found that a single intravenous DMT dose, given over about 10 minutes with psychotherapeutic support, produced rapid and sustained reductions in depressive symptoms for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, with improvements lasting at least two weeks and up to six months.

In participants with moderate to severe depression, the DMT group showed an average improvement of 7.4 depression-rating points more than placebo at two weeks, with effects persisting for several months and some participants maintaining benefits for half a year.

The open-label phase suggested antidepressant effects appeared early—around one week—and remained through 12 weeks, with a between-group effect size at two weeks comparable to other psychedelic trials like psilocybin.

Experts caution that placebo effects and participant expectations may influence outcomes in psychedelic studies, stressing careful preparation, monitoring, and follow-up in future research.

Researchers noted that mystical-type experiences during DMT sessions were linked to greater therapeutic gains, with reports of unity and positive emotional shifts correlating with better outcomes.

Broader trials are planned to explore longer-acting DMT formulations and other psychedelic approaches, while regulatory hurdles and mixed signals in the U.S. continue to shape the development landscape.

If approved in the UK, psychedelic treatments for depression would likely be offered primarily through private clinics, with safety and equity concerns addressed by initiatives guiding rollout.

Side effects were generally mild to moderate, including injection-site pain, nausea, temporary anxiety, and occasional headaches.

Mechanistically, DMT may trigger temporary neuroplastic or anti-inflammatory effects, though the precise pathways remain unclear within the broader context of psychedelic-assisted depression treatments.

Experts suggest psychedelics work by enhancing psychotherapy and disrupting entrenched thinking, creating a cognitive landscape that allows new patterns to form.

The study situates DMT within a broader psychedelic research agenda, noting parallels with psilocybin and other compounds and highlighting ongoing development of related agents for treatment-resistant conditions.

DMT’s short duration, roughly 25 minutes, may offer logistical advantages over longer psychedelics, potentially enabling shorter, more scalable therapy sessions.