5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety.
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 duringfollowing 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 (mysticalchallenging) or beliefs about the 5-MeO-DMT experience were associated with improvements in these conditions. Respondents (n 362 M 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 depressionanxiety 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 physicalpsychological 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.