31st January 2024

Background

Several thousand compounds have hallucinogenic properties; these substances can also be referred to as ‘psychedelics.’ Some naturally occur in plants and fungi (such as psilocybin), and others are synthetic in nature (such as LSD, PCP and ketamine).

Hallucinogens can act on both dopamine and serotonin receptors, by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitters available. Some studies have found that these compounds are ‘psychotomimetic,’ meaning that acute intoxication can cause a temporary psychotic presentation, but potentially also predispose to a syndrome in keeping with a true psychotic disorder. It is proposed that hallucinogen-induced psychosis is associated with higher levels of dopamine.