5-MeO-DMT in the complete resolution of the consequences of chronic, severe sexual abuse in early childhood—a retrospective case study
June 7, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/bvk2f (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective ethnographic inquiry Case report |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A woman in her mid-thirties with severe childhood trauma |
| Interventions | 5-MeO-DMT psilocybin ayahuasca |
| Duration | Two years |
| Topics | 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Sexual abuse Compassion Neglect Facilitator Acting out Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Four 5-MeO-DMT sessions plus additional psychedelic sessions completely resolved trauma symptoms and enabled the woman to rebuild a loving relationship with her father, an outcome that remained stable for three years. |
Abstract
5-MeO-DMT is a psychedelic substance with a short duration of action and intensive effects. Its therapeutic efficacy and practicality may significantly surpass those of classical psychedelics such as ayahuasca and LSD. This retrospective ethnographic inquiry features a woman in her mid-thirties who witnessed her mother's violent suicide and its bloody aftermath at the age of three. Before and after that, her childhood was characterized by domestic violence and sexual abuse perpetrated by several members of her family and extended family. In her twenties and thirties, she dated a member of the local mafia with the intention of asking him to kill her father, who had been the main perpetrator of the sexual abuse and violence. This plan was eventually not carried out, but it reflected her deep bitterness and wrath. A process initiated in her early thirties involving four 5-MeO-DMT sessions and a few additional sessions with psilocybin and ayahuasca in the course of two years completely resolved her symptoms related to the abuses, to the extent that she could rebuild a functional relationship with her father and feel love and compassion towards him. This outcome, i.e., the complete reversal of her attitude and emotions towards her father, appeared highly unusual. For the last three years, the outcome had remained stable. The article also presents the perspective of a female facilitator of this treatment process. The article contributes to a better understanding of the use of 5-MeO-DMT in severe traumatization as well as exemplifies the possible positive contributions of actors who are not medical professionals in resolving deep collective traumatization in societies.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on 5-MeO-DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N, N-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) experience. Naturalistic inhaled N,N-DMT experiences posted to the r/DMT Reddit community | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |
| The content of complex psychedelic experiences resulting from inhalation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine People who smoked N,N-dimethyltryptamine and posted narrative accounts online | 2023 | Qualitative study | |
| Phenomenology and Content of the Inhaled N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) Experience Users of the r/DMT Reddit community who posted about their inhaled N,N-DMT experiences... | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |
| Exploratory Insights into 5-MeO-DMT Experiences on Reddit: A Thematic Analysis Reddit posts about 5-MeO-DMT experiences | 2026 | Qualitative study | n = 120 |
| Fabricated Ancestrality: The Sonoran Desert Toad, Psychedelic Globalization, and the Ecological Politics of 5-MeO-DMT | 2026 | Historical analysis and ethnographic study |
Citations in the library
Cites 20
- Psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine: metabolism, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and pharmacological actions. Current Drug Metabolism October 1, 2010
- A critical review of reports of endogenous psychedelic N, N-dimethyltryptamines in humans: 1955-2010. Drug Testing and Analysis 2012
- Biosynthesis and Extracellular Concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mammalian Brain. Scientific Reports June 27, 2019
- A phase 1/2 trial to assess safety and efficacy of a vaporized 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine formulation (GH001) in patients with treatment-resistant depression Frontiers in Psychiatry June 20, 2023
- A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2022
and 15 more in the library