Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N , N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents
Lindsay P. Cameron, Charlie J. Benson, Brian C. Defelice, Oliver Fiehn, David E. Olson
ACS Chemical Neuroscience March 4, 2019 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00692 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Male rats |
| Intervention | DMT |
| Dose | low doses |
| Topics | Anxiety 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Mood Pharmacology Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 163 |
| Key points | Chronic, intermittent low doses of DMT produced an antidepressant-like phenotype and enhanced fear extinction learning in male rats. |
Abstract
-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The behavioral and cellular effects of this dosing regimen were distinct from those induced following a single high dose of the drug. We found that chronic, intermittent, low doses of DMT produced an antidepressant-like phenotype and enhanced fear extinction learning without impacting working memory or social interaction. Additionally, male rats treated with DMT on this schedule gained a significant amount of body weight during the course of the study. Taken together, our results suggest that psychedelic microdosing may alleviate symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, though the potential hazards of this practice warrant further investigation.