Depression and anxiety impose large economic costs, and many patients do not respond to traditional antidepressants. A single dose of DMT, the main psychoactive compound in ayahuasca, initially increased anxiety-like behaviors in adult male rats but later reduced anxiety by speeding the extinction of conditioned fear memories. DMT also decreased immobility in the forced swim test, a standard measure of antidepressant-like effect. These results indicate that DMT produces both antidepressant and anxiety-reducing behavioral effects in rodents, supporting further research into ayahuasca and similar psychedelics as potential treatments for depression and PTSD.
Repeated low doses of DMT, a psychedelic compound, produced antidepressant-like effects and improved fear extinction learning in male rats, without affecting working memory or social interaction. The rats also gained significant body weight during the study. The findings suggest that microdosing psychedelics may help alleviate symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, but potential risks require further study.