🧠 A small phase 2 clinical trial suggests that a single supervised dose of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) can quickly ease symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder, beating a placebo in this 34-person study 123. People who received DMT had a larger drop in depression scores, with improvements still visible a week later 13.
Several outlets describe the result as early but intriguing: a possible fast-acting option in a field where many treatments take weeks to kick in. They also note DMT’s connection to ayahuasca, and how traditional use is intersecting with modern clinical research under closely controlled conditions 12.
Sources
- One dose of a psychedelic drug can rapidly reduce depressive symptoms [scimex.org] (2026-02-16)
- Single dose of potent psychedelic drug could help treat depression, trial shows [theguardian.com] (2026-02-16)
- Psychedelic reduces depression symptoms after just one dose [newscientist.com] (2026-02-16)
- Single dose of potent psychedelic drug could help treat depression, trial shows. Researchers find DMT – used in shamanic rituals – in tandem with psychotherapy has significant effect [reddit.com] (2026-02-16)
- Single Dose of DMT Rapidly Reduces Symptoms of Major Depression [sciencealert.com] (2026-02-16)
Highlights
- Six-month follow-up: The Guardian reports that some participants still felt benefits up to six months after the single DMT session 2.
- Trial setup: Researchers ran a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled study of DMT given under clinical supervision 1.
- About the drug: DMT is the psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca, a traditional South American brew used in shamanic rituals and known for hallucinogenic effects 12.
- Beyond the acute experience: Coverage highlights that people reported improvements after the drug’s immediate effects wore off, in sessions that included therapeutic support/psychotherapy 23.
Perspectives
Trial authors (via Science Media Exchange): They report larger symptom reductions with DMT than with placebo, and they call for follow-up studies to confirm effectiveness and learn how long the benefits last.
Clinicians/researchers (via The Guardian): They stress that the reported benefits lasted beyond the immediate psychedelic experience, with some participants describing improvements months later when DMT was paired with psychotherapy.
Science journalists (New Scientist): They note that DMT has been linked to improved mental health outcomes before, and that this study adds a placebo comparison in a supported clinical setting.
Scientific Significance
- Scientific meaning: The trial adds randomized, placebo-controlled clinical evidence—though from a small phase 2 sample—that DMT may produce measurable antidepressant effects on a rapid timescale 13.
- Uncertainty and confidence: Uncertainty remains high because the study included 34 people, so estimates of both benefit and durability could shift in larger, more diverse samples 12.
- Limitations and future work: Researchers point to open questions, including how long benefits last and how DMT compares with established depression treatments—fuel for larger, head-to-head trials 1.