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5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ragnhildstveit, A; Khan, R; Seli, P; Bass, LC; August, RJ; Kaiyo, M; Barr, N; Jackson, LK; Gaffrey, MS; Barsuglia, JP; Averill, LA
Published in: Frontiers in psychiatry
January 2023

Psychedelic therapy is, arguably, the next frontier in psychiatry. It offers a radical alternative to longstanding, mainstays of treatment, while exciting a paradigm shift in translational science and drug discovery. There is particular interest in 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT)-a serotonergic psychedelic-as a novel, fast-acting therapeutic. Yet, few studies have directly examined 5-MeO-DMT for trauma- or stress-related psychopathology, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Herein, we present the first longitudinal case study on 5-MeO-DMT for chronic refractory PTSD, in a 23-year-old female. A single dose of vaporized bufotoxin of the Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius), containing an estimated 10-15 mg of 5-MeO-DMT, led to clinically significant improvements in PTSD, with next-day effects. This was accompanied by marked reductions in hopelessness and related suicide risk. Improvements, across all constructs, were sustained at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up, as monitored by a supporting clinician. The subject further endorsed a complete mystical experience, hypothesized to underly 5-MeO-DMT's therapeutic activity. No drug-related, serious adverse events occurred. Together, results showed that 5-MeO-DMT was generally tolerable, safe to administer, and effective for PTSD; however, this was not without risk. The subject reported acute nausea, overwhelming subjective effects, and late onset of night terrors. Further research is warranted to replicate and extend these findings, which are inherently limited, non-generalizable, and rely on methods not clinically accepted.

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Published In

Frontiers in psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1664-0640

ISSN

1664-0640

Publication Date

January 2023

Volume

14

Start / End Page

1271152

Related Subject Headings

  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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Ragnhildstveit, A., Khan, R., Seli, P., Bass, L. C., August, R. J., Kaiyo, M., … Averill, L. A. (2023). 5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1271152. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1271152
Ragnhildstveit, Anya, Ryan Khan, Paul Seli, Lisa Claire Bass, River Jude August, Miriam Kaiyo, Nathaniel Barr, et al. “5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study.Frontiers in Psychiatry 14 (January 2023): 1271152. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1271152.
Ragnhildstveit A, Khan R, Seli P, Bass LC, August RJ, Kaiyo M, et al. 5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study. Frontiers in psychiatry. 2023 Jan;14:1271152.
Ragnhildstveit, Anya, et al. “5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study.Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 14, Jan. 2023, p. 1271152. Epmc, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1271152.
Ragnhildstveit A, Khan R, Seli P, Bass LC, August RJ, Kaiyo M, Barr N, Jackson LK, Gaffrey MS, Barsuglia JP, Averill LA. 5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study. Frontiers in psychiatry. 2023 Jan;14:1271152.

Published In

Frontiers in psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1664-0640

ISSN

1664-0640

Publication Date

January 2023

Volume

14

Start / End Page

1271152

Related Subject Headings

  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences