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DMT Models the Near-Death Experience

Christopher Timmermann, Leor Roseman, L. Williams, David Erritzøe, Charlotte Martial, Héléna Cassol, Steven Laureys, David Nutt, Robin Carhart-Harris

Frontiers in Psychology August 15, 2018 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01424 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Within-subjects placebo-controlled study Peer reviewed
Sample size 13
Population Healthy participants
Intervention DMT
Topics DMT Near-death experience
Keywords Placebo Trait Feeling Clinical psychology
Citations 228
Key points DMT administration produced near-death experience phenomenology that significantly overlapped with features of actual NDEs.

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex subjective experiences, which have been previously associated with the psychedelic experience and more specifically with the experience induced by the potent serotonergic, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Potential similarities between both subjective states have been noted previously, including the subjective feeling of transcending one's body and entering an alternative realm, perceiving and communicating with sentient 'entities' and themes related to death and dying. In this within-subjects placebo-controled study we aimed to test the similarities between the DMT state and NDEs, by administering DMT and placebo to 13 healthy participants, who then completed a validated and widely used measure of NDEs. Results revealed significant increases in phenomenological features associated with the NDE, following DMT administration compared to placebo. Also, we found significant relationships between the NDE scores and DMT-induced ego-dissolution and mystical-type experiences, as well as a significant association between NDE scores and baseline trait 'absorption' and delusional ideation measured at baseline. Furthermore, we found a significant overlap in nearly all of the NDE phenomenological features when comparing DMT-induced NDEs with a matched group of 'actual' NDE experiencers. These results reveal a striking similarity between these states that warrants further investigation.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: DMT Supports

    DMT administration significantly increased near-death-experience phenomenology compared with placebo, with overlap in nearly all features versus actual NDE experiencers.

    Synthesized

  • State of the evidence: Near-death experience Supports

    DMT produced significant increases in NDE phenomenology versus placebo, with substantial overlap in nearly all NDE features compared with actual experiencers.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on near-death experience, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Virtual mortality and near-death experience after a prolonged exposure in a shared virtual reality may lead to positive life-attitude changes Female participants 2018 Randomized controlled trial n = 31
Effects of a Near-Death Experience Learning Module on Grief Bereaved adults (22 females, 2 males; aged 20-71 years, mean age 35.3 years) 2010 Randomized controlled trial n = 24
A virtual reality intervention to reduce death anxiety and stress in adults: examining the effect of a near-death experience simulation Adults 2025 Randomized controlled trial n = 61
Does Learning About Near-Death Experiences Promote Psycho-Spiritual Benefits in Those Who Have Not Had a Near-Death Experience? Adults (unspecified) randomly assigned to intervention or non-intervention group 2017 Randomized controlled trial n = 143

Citations in the library

Cited by 155

and 150 more in the library

Cites 68

and 63 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

DMT Near-death experience 5-MeO-DMT Ego dissolution Mystical experience Mysticism Philosophy of mind Serotonin