Cited by 197Psychedelics and Drug StudiesParanormal Experiences and BeliefsReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting is related to sustained enhancement of satisfaction with life, mindfulness-related capacities, and a decrement of psychopathological symptoms.

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Uthaug, M. V., Lancelotta, R., van Oorsouw, K., Kuypers, K. P. C., Mason, N., Rak, J., Šuláková, A., Jurok, R. +5 more·2019·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (hereinafter referred to as 5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic substance found in the secretion from the parotoid glands of the Bufo alvarius toad. Inhalation of vapor from toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT has become popular in naturalistic settings as a treatment of mental health problems or as a means for spiritual exploration. However, knowledge of the effects of 5-MeO-DMT in humans is limited. AIMS: The first objective of this study was to assess sub-acute and long-term effects of inhaling vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT on affect and cognition. The second objective was to assess whether any changes were associated with the psychedelic experience. METHODS: Assessments at baseline, within 24 h and 4 weeks following intake, were made in 42 individuals who inhaled vapor from dried toad secretion at several European locations. RESULTS: Relative to baseline, ratings of satisfaction with life and convergent thinking significantly increased right after intake and were maintained at follow-up 4 weeks later. Ratings of mindfulness also increased over time and reached statistical significance at 4 weeks. Ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress decreased after the session, and reached significance at 4 weeks. Participants that experienced high levels of ego dissolution or oceanic boundlessness during the session displayed higher ratings of satisfaction with life and lower ratings of depression and stress. CONCLUSION: A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT produces sub-acute and long-term changes in affect and cognition in volunteers. These results warrant exploratory research into therapeutic applications of 5-MeO-DMT.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00213-019-05236-w

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  • Greater acute effects of psychedelics on measures of mystical experiences are associated with positive effects in multiple domains including attitudes, prosocial behavior, depression, anxiety and satisfaction with life in healthy individuals.

    “Greater acute effects of psychedelics on measures of mystical experiences are associated with positive effects in multiple domains including attitudes, prosocial behavior, depression, anxiety and satisfaction with life in healthy individuals (Davis et al. 2019;Griffiths et al. 2018Griffiths et al. , 2011;;Uthaug et al. 2019).”

    From Psychedelic Microdosing, Mindfulness, and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Study (2023) · cites this paper as Uthaug et al. 2019

    The Discussion reports that stronger acute experiences after inhalation of 5-MeO-DMT were associated with greater life satisfaction and lower depression and stress ratings. The Methods identify oceanic boundlessness as a measure of mystical-type experience. Our copy does not establish the claimed association with improved attitudes, prosocial behavior, or anxiety in this study; its findings are also specific to 5-MeO-DMT rather than psychedelics generally. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Psychedelics have repeatedly produced enhancements in well-being in healthy individuals, including enhanced mood, altruistic behaviour and prosociality, as well as significant decreases in clinical symptomatology.

    “Psychedelics have also been shown to repeatedly produce enhancements in well-being in healthy individuals, giving rise to effects such as enhanced mood, altruistic behaviour and prosociality, as well as significant decreases in clinical symptomatology (39–41).”

    From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [40]

    The Results (Affect and cognition; DASS-21; page not supplied) report increased satisfaction with life and significant reductions in self-rated depression, anxiety, and stress four weeks after 5-MeO-DMT inhalation. Methods (Participants; page not supplied) indicates most participants reported no mental health disorder. The paper does not establish repeated effects across psychedelics, enhanced altruistic behaviour or prosociality, or a causal effect; its findings come from one observational study. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Recent studies have demonstrated the capacity of various psychedelics to enhance trait mindfulness post-acutely, even in the absence of a theoretical or practical context of mindfulness training.

    “Recent studies have also demonstrated the capacity of various psychedelics to enhance trait mindfulness post-acutely, even in the absence of a theoretical or practical context of mindfulness training, evidencing a complementary relationship between mindfulness-training and psychedelics (40, 52, 56–59).”

    From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [40]

    The Results (FFMQ-15; page not available) report improved non-judgment and awareness four weeks after a 5-MeO-DMT session, supporting a post-acute increase in measured mindfulness-related capacities. The Methods (Setting; page not available) say participants were advised to increase mindful introspection, so the claimed absence of a mindfulness-related context is not established; the observational study also lacked a control group to demonstrate a causal capacity of the psychedelic. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Enhanced acceptance towards present-moment thoughts and emotions has been observed post-acutely following the administration of ayahuasca and 5-MeO-DMT, which was maintained for up to 1 month.

    “Furthermore, enhanced acceptance towards present-moment thoughts and emotions has been observed post-acutely following the administration of ayahuasca and 5-MeO-DMT, which was maintained for up to 1 month (40, 52, 56–59).”

    From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [40]

    The Methods define non-judgment as not judging present experience, and the Results (FFMQ-15; page unavailable) report improved non-judgment four weeks after 5-MeO-DMT inhalation. However, the sub-acute mindfulness assessments did not differ significantly from baseline, so this paper does not establish an enhancement immediately after administration that was maintained for a month. Its Discussion mentions a separate ayahuasca study but does not establish the claimed month-long acceptance effect for ayahuasca. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In naturalistic psychedelic ceremonies, facilitators administering the drug often have no medical or clinical background, and so are unable to respond in a case of emergency and cannot exclude individuals with counterindications from the sessions.

    “This has ethical implications, as often the facilitators administering the drug have no medical or clinical background (40, 59), and so are unable to respond in a case of emergency and cannot exclude individuals with counterindications from the sessions.”

    From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [40]

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Authors
Uthaug, M. V., Lancelotta, R., van Oorsouw, K., Kuypers, K. P. C., Mason, N., Rak, J., Šuláková, A., Jurok, R., Maryška, M., Kuchař, M., Páleníček, T., Riba, J., & Ramaekers, J. G.
Affiliations
  • Maastricht University (NL)
  • Charles University (CZ)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (CZ)
  • University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (CZ)
Corresponding author
  • Uthaug, M. V.
  • Ramaekers, J. G.
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2019-04-13
Volume
236
Issue
9
Pages
2653-2666
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2938570586
Cited by
197
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 5
FWCI
24.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Czech Ministery of Interior Affairs (VI20172020056)
  • Czech Ministery of Education, Youth and Sports (LO1611)
  • Charles University Prague (PROGRES Q35)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
5-MeO-DMT, Bufo alvarius, vapor inhalation, psychedelic effects, life satisfaction, mindfulness, ego dissolution, depression, anxiety, stress, convergent thinking, long-term effects, naturalistic settings
MeSH terms
Vaping, Administration, Inhalation, Adult, Animals, Mental Disorders, Bufonidae, Cognition, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hallucinogens, Humans, Male, Methoxydimethyltryptamines, Personal Satisfaction, Mindfulness

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