Altered consciousness states and endogenous psychoses: a common molecular pathway?
Schizophrenia research December 19, 1997 J Ciprian-Ollivier, M G Cetkovich-Bakmas 34 citations
The transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that an inborn error of metabolism causes serotonin or tryptamine to gain extra methyl groups, forming hallucinogenic methylated indolealkyalamines (MIAs) such as bufotenin and DMT. Studies examining MIA excretion in psychotic patients and controls have yielded contradictory results: some show elevated levels in patients with schizophrenia, others do not. The hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca may model how such compounds produce psychotic symptoms. Certain perceptual disturbances in schizophrenia could contribute to deterioration and negative symptoms. Further research into MIA neurophysiology and their role in psychoses is needed.