[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.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on 5-MeO-DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Experienced hallucinogen users | 1994 | Double-blind, saline placebo-controlled, randomized study | n = 12 |
| Psychological Effects of (S)-Ketamine and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): A Double-Blind, Cross-Over Study in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2005 | Double-blind crossover study | n = 9 |
| Differential tolerance to biological and subjective effects of four closely spaced doses of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans Experienced hallucinogen users | 1996 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 13 |
| Pharmacokinetics of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Humans. Healthy adults | 2023 | Phase I component of a phase I/IIa randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-escalation trial | n = 24 |
| Prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex and its attentional modulation in the human S-ketamine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) models of psychosis Healthy volunteers | 2007 | Double-blind crossover study | n = 15 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Exploratory study of the dose-related safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in healthy volunteers and major depressive disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2022
- A Systematic Review of Study Design and Placebo Controls in Psychedelic Research. Psychedelic Medicine March 12, 2024
- Neurobiological research on N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and its potentiation by monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition: from ayahuasca to synthetic combinations of DMT and MAO inhibitors. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences September 10, 2024
- Safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamic and wellbeing effects of SPL026 (dimethyltryptamine fumarate) in healthy participants: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023
- Blinding Integrity in Psychedelic Randomized Clinical Trials JAMA Psychiatry April 15, 2026
Cites 3
- Altered States of Consciousness Archives of General Psychiatry September 1, 1966
- [Altered states of consciousness induced by N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)]. Pharmakopsychiatrie, Neuro-Psychopharmakologie September 1, 1976
- Empirical Dimensions of LSD-25 Reaction Archives of General Psychiatry May 1, 1964