Beyond symptom reduction: DMT improves anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life in healthy volunteers and patients with depression

This study examined whether inhaled DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), administered with psychological support, produces benefits that extend beyond reducing depression symptoms.

This study examined whether inhaled DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), administered with psychological support, produces benefits that extend beyond reducing depression symptoms. It combined data from two open-label clinical trials involving 27 healthy volunteers and 14 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Participants were followed for up to 12 months

Many psychedelic studies focus primarily on symptom scales (e.g., depression or anxiety scores). This study emphasizes recovery-oriented outcomes, asking whether people actually function better and experience greater well-being after treatment.

The findings suggest inhaled DMT may contribute to:

• improved daily functioning,

• greater overall well-being,

• sustained improvements in quality of life,

• enhanced psychological resilience and hope

In healthy volunteers, DMT temporarily reduced anxiety and increased life satisfaction. In patients with treatment-resistant depression, it was associated with lasting (up to 12 months) improvements in life satisfaction, multiple domains of quality of life, inner peace, and optimism. Because the trials were small and uncontrolled, larger randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to determine how much of these improvements are attributable to DMT itself.

Abstract

Background:

Recent studies have demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT); however, long-term effects, including broader well-being dimensions, are sparsely explored across populations.

Aims:

Investigating whether DMT produces sustained improvements in anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life, in both healthy individuals and patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Methods:

In 2 open-label clinical trials, 27 healthy individuals and 14 patients with TRD, respectively, received inhaled DMT in a supportive clinical setting. Repeated assessments were conducted from baseline up to 12 months (only patients), including state anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory State, STAI-S), life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWL), and quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument – Abbreviated Version, WHOQOL-BREF, and Spirituality, Religion and Personal Beliefs Module, WHOQOL-SRPB).

Results:

All volunteers showed reduced state anxiety after inhalation up to 1 day afterward. Healthy volunteers reported increased life satisfaction up to 14 days post-administration. Beyond symptom reduction, patients reported increased life satisfaction after 12 months and sustained improvements in quality of life over that period, including Physical Health, Psychological Health, Social Relationships, and Environment (WHOQOL-BREF), and partially Inner Peace and Hope & Optimism (WHOQOL-SRPB).

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that inhaled DMT, combined with psychological support, is associated with recovery of daily functioning and health domains in patients with depression. Although limited by open-label design, lacking placebo control, and modest sample size, this exploratory study highlights the value of incorporating multidimensional outcomes in psychedelic research and DMT’s potential relevance in both clinical and public health contexts.

Bolcont R, Palhano-Fontes F, Barros H, et al. Beyond symptom reduction: DMT improves anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life in healthy volunteers and patients with depression. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2026;0(0). Read Paper

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