Hallucinogen DMT an effective antidepressant in small clinical trial

Source: Ars Technica

One week after the initial dose, only 6 percent of the control group (meaning two individuals) reported improvements in their depression symptoms. In contrast, nearly half (44 percent) of those who received DMT reported feeling better. While the effect began to fade by the 14‑week time point, this population was still far better off than when the study started.

The control‑group participants, who received a single dose two weeks into the study, showed an interesting trajectory. Their symptoms improved slightly over the first two weeks through a combination of placebo effect and the counseling that everyone received. After receiving a DMT dose, they improved substantially, ending the study somewhat better than at baseline.

There were no serious side effects following treatment, and the less‑serious ones tended to be short‑lived, such as mild pain at the injection site. A very brief spike in heart rate and blood pressure was also observed.

Promising start

One of the big questions about psychedelics has been whether their hallucinogenic effects and their antidepressant effects are separable. There are indications that the two act through different mechanisms, but this study suggests that may not be the case with DMT. “Antidepressant effects two weeks after participants’ first active DMT dose were observed to be moderated by their ‘Mystical Experience’ Questionnaire (MEQ) scores, as well as Ego Dissolution Inventory,” the authors note.

None of this is to say that DMT will be the right solution for everyone—we’ll have to wait for a larger trial and longer follow‑up to gauge its effectiveness. It is important to note that this study administered DMT as part of a general care plan. Still, it is promising as a drug, since even its apparently brief period of mind alteration seems to have a significant impact on clinical depression, while also greatly simplifying care for those receiving the drug.

Given that many people don’t respond to traditional antidepressants, any additional option would be welcome.

Nature Medicine, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-04154-z (About DOIs).