DMT Models the Near-Death Experience

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex subjective experiences, which have been previously associated with the psychedelic experience and more specifically with the experience induced by the potent serotonergic, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Potential similarities between both subjective states have been noted previously, including the subjective feeling of transcending one's body and entering an alternative realm, perceiving and communicating with sentient 'entities' and themes related to death and dying. In this within-subjects placebo-controled study we aimed to test the similarities between the DMT state and NDEs, by administering DMT and placebo to 13 healthy participants, who then completed a validated and widely used measure of NDEs. Results revealed significant increases in phenomenological features associated with the NDE, following DMT administration compared to placebo. Also, we found significant relationships between the NDE scores and DMT-induced ego-dissolution and mystical-type experiences, as well as a significant association between NDE scores and baseline trait 'absorption' and delusional ideation measured at baseline. Furthermore, we found a significant overlap in nearly all of the NDE phenomenological features when comparing DMT-induced NDEs with a matched group of 'actual' NDE experiencers. These results reveal a striking similarity between these states that warrants further investigation.

Keywords: DMT; N; N-Dimethyltryptamine; NDE; absorption; delusional ideation; near-death experience; phenomenology; psychedelic.

FIGURE 1

Near-Death Experience (NDE) scale results for DMT vs. placebo. Significantly larger scores for DMT versus placebo were found for (A) 10 out of 16 items of the NDE scale; (B) all NDE subscales; and (C) the NDE scale total (the dotted red line corresponds to the conventional threshold for determining an NDE) (^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗p < 0.01, corrected for multiple comparisons).

FIGURE 2

Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI) and Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) scores and relationship with Near-Death Experience (NDE) scale scores. Significantly higher scores were found for DMT compared to placebo for (A) EDI and (C) MEQ scores. A highly significantly positive correlation was found between the NDE scale and (B) EDI and (D) MEQ scores following DMT administration.

FIGURE 3

Association between the NDE scale scores following DMT administration and baseline measures of (A) delusional beliefs (PDI) and (B) Absorption scores (MODTAS). The transparent red line shows the slope of the r-value discarding the outlier.

FIGURE 4

Comparison of near-death experience (NDE) features in ‘actual’ NDEs and the DMT experience using a standard NDE scale (Greyson, 1983). No significant differences were found between DMT administration and ‘actual’ NDEs for (A) 15 out of 16 NDE scale items; (B) all NDE subscales; and (C) the NDE scale total score (The dotted red line corresponds to the threshold for an NDE). (^∗p < 0.05 uncorrected).