Healthy
Conditions
Brief summary
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a psychoactive substance with similar effects such as LSD or psilocybin. However, DMT is less well characterized than the latter substances. The present study is a modern randomized cross-over trial, investigating different intravenous DMT boluses over a broad dose range. Thus, different doses will be tested and related to subjective and autonomic effects.
Detailed description
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally-occurring psychedelic substance widely used in recreational and spiritual settings (Ayahuasca). DMT is considered a tool to induce an altered state of consciousness of interest in psychological and psychiatric research. DMT is rapidly metabolized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) A. Therefore, it is inactive when administered orally and has a very short duration of action when administered parenterally (\<20 min). However, to date no clinical study has investigated dose-response effects over a broad range of different doses of DMT within the same patient. The aim of the present study is to experimentally test different intravenous DMT bolus doses over a broad dose range and investigate the related subjective and autonomic effects in order to establish a precise dose-response relationship of DMT in healthy subjects.
Interventions
DRUGN,N-Dimethyltryptamine (20mg)
Intravenous bolus application over 45 seconds
DRUGN,N-Dimethyltryptamine (25mg)
Intravenous bolus application over 45 seconds
DRUGPlacebo (saline)
Intravenous bolus application over 45 seconds
DRUGN,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5mg)
Intravenous bolus application over 45 seconds
DRUGN,N-Dimethyltryptamine (10mg)
Intravenous bolus application over 45 seconds
DRUGN,N-Dimethyltryptamine (15mg)
Intravenous bolus application over 45 seconds
Sponsors
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Intervention model description
In the randomized arm, subjects will be administered intravenous DMT in 4 different bolus doses (5, 10, 15, 20mg) or placebo in randomized, counter-balanced order. In the dose escalation arm, subjects will be administered a placebo and a maximum of 5 DMT bolus doses (5, 10, 15, 20, 25mg) in an escalating dose order. In both arms, the bolus applications will be separated by one hour.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Age between 25 and 65 years old 2. Sufficient understanding of the German language 3. Understanding of procedures and risks associated with the study 4. Willing to adhere to the protocol and signing of the consent form 5. Willing to refrain from the consumption of illicit psychoactive substances during the study 6. Abstaining from xanthine-based liquids from the evenings prior to the study sessions and during the sessions 7. Willing not to operate heavy machinery within 6 h of DMT administration 8. Willing to use double-barrier birth control throughout study participation 9. Body mass index between 18-29 kg/m2.
Exclusion criteria
1. Chronic or acute medical condition 2. Current or previous major psychiatric disorder (e.g. psychotic disorders, mania / hypomania, anxiety disorders). 3. Psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder in first-degree relatives 4. Hypertension (SBP\>140/90 mmHg) or hypotension (SBP\<85 mmHg) 5. Hallucinogenic substance use (not including cannabis) more than 20 times or any time within the previous two months 6. Pregnancy or current breastfeeding 7. Participation in another clinical trial (currently or within the last 30 days) 8. Use of medication that may interfere with the effects of the study medication 9. Tobacco smoking (\>10 cigarettes/day) 10. Consumption of alcoholic beverages (\>20 drinks/week)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Altered states of consciousness profile (OAV) | Repeatedly 1 hour after each bolus application | Altered states of consciousness profile (OAV) consisting of 42 items to be rated on a visual analog scale (0-100 mm), with higher values indicating stronger effects with higher scores representing more intense effects |
| Subjective effect ratings over time | Repeatedly 1 hour after each bolus application | Participants will be asked by the investigator to repeatedly rate their subjective effects verbally on a Likert scale from 0 to 10 for: any drug effect, good drug effect, bad drug effect, and fear. Ratings will be performed before and repeatedly after substance administration and will take approximately 30 sec complete. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Urine recovery of DMT | Once at the end of study day | Assessed once on each study day |
| Psychedelic experience questionnnaire (PEQ) | Repeatedly 1 hour after each bolus application | Assesses the emergence and intensity of phenomenons occurring in altered states of consciousness on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). |
| Near death experience content scale (NDE-C) | Repeatedly 1 hour after each bolus application | The Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale is a tool to assess dimensions of near-death experience on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). |
| Spiritual Realms Questionnaire (SRQ) | Once at the end of study day | Assesses the spiritual phenomenons elicited by psychedelic substances through 11 main questions to be answered on a total of 65 sub-ordered 100mm visual analog scales once on each study day |
| Heart rate | Repeatedly in short intervals (2-10 minutes) after each bolus application | Assessed multiple times on each study day. |
| NEO-Five-Factor-Inventory (NEO-FFI) | Baseline | The NEO-FFI is a self-description questionnaire with 60 items for the measurement of the big five: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and consciousness. It uses a 5-point Likert scale ranging from completely disagree to fully agree. |
| Saarbrücker Personality Questionnaire (SPF) | Baseline | The SPF defines empathy as the reactions of one individual to the observed experiences of another. It assesses 28- items on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Does not describe me well to Describes me very well. The measure has 4 subscales (Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, Personal Distress) each made up of 7 different items. |
| Elliot Humility Scale (EHS) | Baseline | The Elliot Humility Scale (EHS) is a validated 13-item self-rating measure assessing four subscales, i.e. openness, self-forgetfulness, accurate self-assessment, and focus on others on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree |
| Blood pressure | Repeatedly in short intervals (2-10 minutes) after each bolus application | Assessed multiple times on each study day via systolic and diastolic blood pressure |
| Plasma level DMT | Repeatedly in short intervals (2-10 minutes) after each bolus application | Assessed multiple times on each study day. |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed