A single-day session of vaporized DMT, a psychedelic compound found in ayahuasca, rapidly reduced depression symptoms in six patients with treatment-resistant depression. Depression scores on two standard rating scales dropped substantially by day one and remained lower for one month. By day seven, 83% of patients responded to treatment and 67% achieved remission; at one month, 67% maintained response and 50% maintained remission. The non-invasive, short-acting nature of DMT may make psychedelic treatments more accessible in interventional psychiatry.
In patients with treatment-resistant depression receiving up to eight weekly subcutaneous doses of esketamine, those who responded to treatment (≥50% reduction in MADRS scores) showed significantly higher levels of dissociation, particularly derealization, compared with non-responders. Depersonalization and amnesia scores also tended to be higher among responders, though these differences were not statistically significant. The authors suggest that dissociative experiences, especially derealization, may be clinically relevant correlates of antidepressant outcomes, but note that further prospective studies with larger samples and dose-controlled designs are needed before clinical utility can be established.