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On the transmethylation hypothesis: stress, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and positive symptoms of psychosis

  • Translational Neurosciences - Review Article
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Abstract

Past research suggests a relationship between stress and positive symptoms of psychosis. However, the biological substrate of this relationship remains unknown. According to the transmethylation hypothesis, schizophrenia could result from a biochemical disruption in the stress mechanism. This biochemical disruption would lead to the production of a substance that would account for the symptoms of psychosis. Moreover, some studies have tested endogenous N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in the context of the transmethylation hypothesis. Stress has been found to elevate DMT levels in rodents. Also, elevated DMT levels have been associated with positive features of psychosis in psychiatric patients. Additionally, healthy participants treated with exogenous DMT experience predominantly positive symptoms of psychosis. The present paper examines endogenous DMT as a possible biological mediator of the relationship between stress and positive symptoms of psychosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Dionysios Grammenos

  2. Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70806, USA

    Steven A. Barker

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  1. Dionysios Grammenos
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Correspondence to Dionysios Grammenos.

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Grammenos, D., Barker, S.A. On the transmethylation hypothesis: stress, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and positive symptoms of psychosis. J Neural Transm 122, 733–739 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-014-1329-5

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