Possible Interactions Between 5-HT2A Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System in Humans
Rafael G. Dos Santos, José Alexandre S. Crippa, Flávia de Lima Osório, Juliana Mendes Rocha, Giordano Novak Rossi, Camila Marchioni, Maria Eugênia Costa Queiroz, Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira, Maurı́cio Yonamine, Jaime E. C. Hallak
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology October 19, 2018 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000000973 via OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmine, may help treat social anxiety disorder. In a controlled setting, a single dose of ayahuasca reduced anxiety symptoms in volunteers with social anxiety disorder compared to a placebo. The improvement was observed within hours and lasted for several days. The study suggests that ayahuasca could be a fast-acting treatment option for social anxiety, but the small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up limit the conclusions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Volunteers with social anxiety disorder |
| Duration | Single dose, with follow-up over several days |
| Keywords | Endocannabinoid system Humanities Art Receptor Internal medicine |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key finding | A single dose of ayahuasca reduced anxiety symptoms in individuals with social anxiety disorder compared to placebo. |
Abstract
dos Santos, Rafael Guimarães PhD; Crippa, José Alexandre MD, PhD; Osório, Flávia de Lima PhD; Rocha, Juliana M. BSc; Rossi, Giordano Novak BSc; Marchioni, Camila BSc; Queiroz, Maria Eugênia Costa PhD; Silveira, Gabriela O. BSc; Yonamine, Mauricio PhD; Hallak, Jaime Eduardo Cecilio MD, PhD Author Information