Lachgas kann bei Depressionen sofortige Linderung verschaffen. Die Behandlung ist über längere Zeiträume durchführbar und kann sowohl bei Personen mit schwerer depressiver Störung (MDD) als auch bei behandlungsresistenter Depression (TRD) wirksam sein – einige der Menschen, die am schwersten zu behandeln sind.

A review by researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford in the UK has found that controlled doses of laughing gas (or nitrous oxide) really can provide quick-acting relief from depression.

The treatment seems to be viable over longer periods of time, with repeated doses, and can be effective in individuals with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) – some of the people who are hardest to treat.

„This population has often lost hope of recovery, making the results of this [study](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.106023) particularly exciting,“ says consultant psychiatrist Steven Marwaha, from the University of Birmingham.

„These findings highlight the urgent need for new treatments that can complement existing care pathways, and further evidence is needed to understand how this approach can best support people living with severe depression.“

I recently underwent mdma assisted therapy for my MDD and TRD. It’s early days but seems to be working well.

I wonder how much of this is related to neurochemistry and dopamine reward vs cortisone relief.

I feel like young or impressionable people will read the summary and think all they need is some laughing gas to feel better without realizing how much of a danger or even fatal it can be without medical supervision.