[Comparison of altered states of consciousness induced by the hallucinogens (--)-delta9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (author's transl)].
A Dittrich, P Bickel, J Schöpf, D Zimmer
Archiv fur Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten December 31, 1976 DOI: 10.1007/bf00367455 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractTwo hallucinogens, delta9-THC (the main psychoactive component of cannabis) and DMT (a powerful psychedelic), produce very similar subjective effects. In a controlled experiment, 24 subjects received oral delta9-THC and 26 received injected DMT, each at 250 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, with 24 subjects receiving a placebo. Both hallucinogens significantly altered consciousness across eight measured scales—including visual and auditory hallucinations, memory impairment, depersonalization, and euphoria—compared to placebo. However, no significant differences were found between the two drugs on any scale, though DMT showed a tendency toward stronger visual effects. The study discusses methodological challenges in comparing different hallucinogens.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 74 |
| Population | Human subjects |
| Interventions | delta9-THC DMT |
| Dose | 250 µg/kg body weight |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key finding | Delta9-THC and DMT produced similar subjective effects, with no significant differences between them on any of eight scales measuring altered states of consciousness. |
Abstract
The study compares altered states of consciousness induced by the hallucinogens (--)delta9-trans-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) using two placebo control groups. A total of 24 subjects received 250 mug delta9-THC p.o./kg body weight and 26 subjects were treated with 250 mug DMT i.m./kg. Placebo was given to 24 subjects. The effects were assessed by a questionnaire administered following the experimental conditions. Questionnaire items were combined into the following eight scales according to their content and several cirteria of the theory of mental testing: visual hallucinations (illusions), auditory hallucinations (illusions), impairment of memory and attention, depersonalization syndrome, deprealization syndrome, changes of body image, euphoric state and anxious-depressive state. The two hallucinogen groups differed significantly from placebo on all eight scales. No difference, however, between delta9-THC and DMT was significant. On the scale "optical hallucinations (illusions)" a tendency that DMT might have stronger effects than delta9-THC was found. Methodological problems of comparing different hallucinogens are discussed.