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[Comparison of altered states of consciousness induced by the hallucinogens (--)-delta9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (author's transl)].

A Dittrich, P Bickel, J Schöpf, D Zimmer

Archiv fur Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten December 31, 1976 DOI: 10.1007/bf00367455 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 74
Population Human subjects
Interventions delta9-THC DMT
Dose 250 µg/kg body weight
Topics 5-MeO-DMT Altered states of consciousness Cannabis DMT
Citations 8
Key findings Delta9-THC and DMT produced similar subjective effects, with no significant differences between them on any of eight scales measuring altered states of consciousness.

Abstract

The study compares altered states of consciousness induced by the hallucinogens (--)delta9-trans-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) using two placebo control groups. A total of 24 subjects received 250 mug delta9-THC p.o./kg body weight and 26 subjects were treated with 250 mug DMT i.m./kg. Placebo was given to 24 subjects. The effects were assessed by a questionnaire administered following the experimental conditions. Questionnaire items were combined into the following eight scales according to their content and several cirteria of the theory of mental testing: visual hallucinations (illusions), auditory hallucinations (illusions), impairment of memory and attention, depersonalization syndrome, deprealization syndrome, changes of body image, euphoric state and anxious-depressive state. The two hallucinogen groups differed significantly from placebo on all eight scales. No difference, however, between delta9-THC and DMT was significant. On the scale "optical hallucinations (illusions)" a tendency that DMT might have stronger effects than delta9-THC was found. Methodological problems of comparing different hallucinogens are discussed.