a Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD USA.
b Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2019;45(2):161-169. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2018.1545024. Epub 2019 Mar 1.
A recent epidemiological study suggested that 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used for spiritual and recreational reasons is associated with subjective improvement in depression and anxiety. Further exploration of the potential psychotherapeutic effects of 5-MeO-DMT could inform future clinical trials.
We examined self-reported improvement in depression and anxiety among people who use 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures guiding dose and administration of 5-MeO-DMT. Such procedures also include activities for the preparation of, and support during/following sessions, which are similar to procedures used in clinical trials of hallucinogen administration. Next, we examined whether depression or anxiety were improved following use, and whether the acute subjective effects (mystical/challenging) or beliefs about the 5-MeO-DMT experience were associated with improvements in these conditions.
Respondents (n = 362; M = 47.7; Male = 55%; White/Caucasian = 84%) completed an anonymous web-based survey.
Of those reporting having been diagnosed with depression (41%) or anxiety (48%), most reported these conditions were improved (depression = 80%; anxiety = 79%) following 5-MeO-DMT use, and fewer reported they were unchanged (depression = 17%; anxiety = 19%) or worsened (depression = 3%; anxiety = 2%). Improvement in depression/anxiety conditions were associated with greater intensity of mystical experiences and higher ratings of the spiritual significance and personal meaning of the 5-MeO-DMT experience. There were no associations between depression or anxiety improvement and the intensity of acute challenging physical/psychological effects during the 5-MeO-DMT experience.
Future prospective controlled clinical pharmacology studies should examine the safety and efficacy of 5-MeO-DMT administration for relieving depression and anxiety.
最近的一项流行病学研究表明，5-甲氧基-N,N-二甲基色胺（5-MeO-DMT）用于精神和娱乐目的与抑郁和焦虑的主观改善有关。进一步探索 5-MeO-DMT 的潜在心理治疗效果，可以为未来的临床试验提供信息。
我们在一个有结构化程序指导 5-MeO-DMT 剂量和给药的小组环境中，检查了使用 5-MeO-DMT 的人群中抑郁和焦虑的自我报告改善情况。这些程序还包括用于准备、支持期间/之后的活动，类似于迷幻剂给药临床试验中使用的程序。接下来，我们检查了使用后抑郁或焦虑是否得到改善，以及急性主观效应（神秘/挑战）或对 5-MeO-DMT 体验的信念是否与这些情况的改善有关。
受访者（n = 362；M = 47.7；男性 = 55%；白种人/高加索人 = 84%）完成了一项匿名的网络调查。
在报告被诊断为抑郁（41%）或焦虑（48%）的人群中，大多数人报告在使用 5-MeO-DMT 后这些情况得到改善（抑郁= 80%；焦虑= 79%），较少的人报告情况没有变化（抑郁= 17%；焦虑= 19%）或恶化（抑郁= 3%；焦虑= 2%）。抑郁/焦虑状况的改善与更强烈的神秘体验强度和更高的 5-MeO-DMT 体验的精神意义和个人意义评分有关。在 5-MeO-DMT 体验期间，急性挑战的身体/心理效应的强度与抑郁或焦虑的改善之间没有关联。
未来的前瞻性对照临床药理学研究应检查 5-MeO-DMT 给药缓解抑郁和焦虑的安全性和有效性。
