Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents
This rat study (n=35) investigated the effects of microdosing DMT (1mg/kg) in rats and found that a chronic (∼2 months), intermittent (every third day) microdosing regimen facilitated fear extinction learning and reduced depressive immobility in the forced swim test without producing the anxiety-like effects characteristic of a high dose.
Authors
- David Olson
- Lindsay Cameron
Published
Abstract
Introduction
Drugs capable of ameliorating symptoms of depression and anxiety while also improving cognitive function and sociability are highly desirable. Anecdotal reports have suggested that serotonergic psychedelics administered in low doses on a chronic, intermittent schedule, so-called “microdosing”, might produce beneficial effects on mood, anxiety, cognition, and social interaction.
Methods
Here, we test this hypothesis by subjecting male and female Sprague Dawley rats to behavioral testing following the chronic, intermittent administration of low doses of the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
Results
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.
Discussion
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.
Research Summary of 'Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents'
Introduction
Mood and anxiety disorders are major contributors to global disability and current treatments are often slow to act and ineffective for many patients. Serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin and DMT have been explored as experimental therapeutics, but it is unclear whether full hallucinogenic doses are required for clinical benefit. Anecdotal reports of ‘‘microdosing’’—regular, subhallucinogenic doses administered on an intermittent schedule—claim improvements in mood, anxiety, cognition and sociability, yet there are almost no peer-reviewed studies that systematically test these claims. Cameron and colleagues set out to model psychedelic microdosing in rats to determine which behaviours are sensitive to chronic, intermittent low doses of DMT. They compared the effects of a repeated low-dose regimen (1 mg/kg DMT administered intraperitoneally every third day for several weeks) with known outcomes of a single high (10 mg/kg) dose, and assessed a battery of behavioural, structural and molecular endpoints relevant to mood, anxiety, cognition, sociability and metabolism. The study aimed to establish whether subhallucinogenic repeated dosing produces antidepressant- or anxiolytic-like effects and to characterise accompanying neurobiological changes.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
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- APA Citation
Cameron, L. P., Benson, C. J., DeFelice, B. C., Fiehn, O., & Olson, D. E. (2019). Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 10(7), 3261-3270. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00692
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