Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: MELANIE MOURA MEDINA GURGEL

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MELANIE MOURA MEDINA GURGEL
DATE: 05/04/2024
TIME: 16:00
LOCAL: UFRN; Departamento de fisiologia e comportamento
TITLE:

EXPLORING THE BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF VAPORIZED DMT IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

KEY WORDS:

biomarker, depression, DMT, psychedelic

PAGES: 22
BIG AREA: Ciências Humanas
AREA: Psicologia
SUBÁREA: Psicologia Fisiológica
SUMMARY:

 N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) has been studied as a potential rapid-acting antidepressant, and studies have been speculating about how important the psychedelic experience is in the clinical response of these new types of treatments. However, it is still unclear whether the psychedelic effects are relevant and if they induce physiological changes in pathways associated with depression. The present study will investigate the relationships between the use of DMT and a panel of potential blood biomarkers of depression/mood, in a group of healthy individuals, aiming to understand if molecular changes are associated with the intensity and nature of the altered states of consciousness induced by DMT. This is a Phase I, cross-sectional, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All participants will receive a dose of the active substance and a dose of placebo in random order, within a controlled environment. Blood samples will be collected before and after the use of each substance, and the following scales will be applied to measure altered states of consciousness: Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) and Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ). The molecules to be investigated are total cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), growth hormone (GH), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is hypothesized that the biomarkers will behave differently in the presence or absence of DMT in the body, as well as depending on the intensity and nature of the altered states of consciousness. Such a study, with healthy volunteers, is relevant for a broader understanding of the mechanisms involved in such domains, in order that possible applications of treatment protocols in sick individuals may occur more safely and effectively.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interno - 1216466 - JOHN FONTENELE ARAUJO