<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A single dose of a particular psychedelic drug has been found to rapidly reduce symptoms of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/depression" rel="" target="_blank" title="depression"><span>depression</span></a><span>, suggesting a new form of mental health treatment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/uk" rel="" target="_blank" title="UK"><span>UK</span></a><span> clinical trial, the results of which were published in the journal </span><a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/one-dose-of-a-psychadelic-drug-can-rapidly-reduce-depressive-symptoms/multimedia/psychedelic-depression_nature_paper.pdf" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nature Medicine"><em><span>Nature Medicine</span></em></a><span> this morning, showed that a dose of the drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT), given with psychological support, rapidly reduced depressive symptoms in 34 adults with major depressive disorder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of global disability, but many people do not respond to existing treatments, which are also associated with several side effects, including sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and sleep disturbance.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/north-ryde-kidnapping-sydney-chris-baghsarian-police/3cb2fb83-2b2b-4eda-b451-4bcb90ef4480" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Grave fears' for Sydney grandfather after 'mistaken identity' kidnapping</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Psychedelic-assisted therapy, including the use of psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), has shown promise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the effects of psilocybin last for about two hours, which makes therapeutic sessions overly long and difficult to scale up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In contrast, DMT is a fast-acting psychedelic drug that, when given intravenously, causes a brief period of subjective psychedelic effects of around 30 minutes.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/single-psychedelic-dose-can-relieve-depression-symptoms/11d51bd5-f619-4ddc-9ccc-f17357c2f008" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EPSTEIN FILES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/epstein-files-prominent-people-list-sent-to-us-congress/49ecc444-8248-4166-845f-ab4d3b9b3207" target="_blank"><strong><span>US officials list hundreds of prominent people named in documents</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, whether such a rapid-acting psychedelic could provide similar antidepressant effects to psilocybin had previously been unclear.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the new study, David Erritzoe and his colleagues in the first stage divided the 34 participants into groups that received either DMT or a placebo, without knowing which.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two weeks later, all participants received a DMT dose, with therapist support.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/heavy-rain-to-soak-multiple-states-northern-australia/730f950c-9898-4e2e-9f07-99bc1cf817ba" target="_blank"><strong><span>Half of Australia set for major soaking, millions warned</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After the first fortnight, researchers found those who had received a DMT dose showed a greater reduction in depression scores on a clinical diagnostic tool called the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The improvements were also apparent after one week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Twelve weeks after the second phase, the anti-depressant effects lasted for 12 weeks and no difference in depression scores were observed between one-dose and two-dose participants.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-2027-new-zealand-game-confirmed-auckland-nsw-blues-vs-queensland-maroons-20260216-p5o2j6.html" target="_blank"><strong><span>Huge Origin shake-up announced after Ponga bombshell</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Side effects were "mild or moderate", researchers said, and included injection-site pain, nausea, and temporary anxiety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While larger studies are needed, the researchers say the results point the way forward for a new method of treating depression, in conjunction with other therapies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. </span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).</span></strong></div></div>