UK regulators have just given the green light for a clinical trial to study whether the psychedelic compound dimethyltriptamine, or simply DMT, could be effective in assisting the future treatment of several mental problems, including depression. The Spirit Molecule, as DMT is often referred as, is one of the main ingredients in the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca.

“By adopting responsible evidence-based research and development into psychedelic medicine, we hope to help rebrand these once stigmatised compounds as highly effective medical therapies which can be integrated into current healthcare systems”

Powerful brew

The study will be the first of its kind where the active ingredient in ayahuasca - an Amazonian mix of certain plants used in shamanistic rituals - will be clinically studied. The drug produces hallucinations and completely distorts time, space, sound and color for the user. It’s effects can last up to 12 hours in this form, whereas it’s a short-lived experience when taking DMT in the form of the vapor.

So what are the scientists planning to do? Well, the trial will be run by the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London in collaboration with a neuropharmaceutical company called Small Pharma, who described the approval as a “truly ground-breaking moment” in the treatment of depression. If everythings goes according to plan, the first trials will start in January next year.

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Revolutionizing treatments

“Psychedelic assisted therapy will revolutionise the treatment of depression”, Carol Routledge, chief medical and scientific officer at Small Pharma told The Independent. The idea behind this is that some people see the potential of psychedelics to treat the root issue of the illness, instead of simply masking the symptoms of the illness which often happens in current medication.

The scientist describes a DMT experience “like shaking up a snow globe” in the brain. Earlier studies already showed that DMT and ayahuasca could ‘rewire’ certain brain patterns. By disrupting certain negative thoughts and patterns, this extreme experience could potentially ‘resettle’ the user in a way, helping them much more than other methods could.

And while this does sound extremely promising, nothing is certain yet. The trial will initially see healthy participants given the drug, but is expected to be followed by a second study of volunteers with depression, who would also receive psychotherapy counselling.

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Ground-breaking moment for stigmatised compounds

This way of treatment will have to prove itself strongly to even be considered a method of use by doctors in the future. Dr Routledge described the regulatory approval as “a truly ground-breaking moment in the race to effectively and safely treat depression, as more and more people suffer as a result of the pandemic”.

The neuropharmaceutical hopes the trial will change minds about the potential of “once stigmatised compounds” as useful medical therapies. “By adopting responsible evidence-based research and development into psychedelic medicine, we hope to help rebrand these once stigmatised compounds as highly effective medical therapies which can be integrated into current healthcare systems and made accessible to the millions of people suffering from depression,” Mr Rands said in a statement.