Marco Aurélio Vinhosa Bastos1, Paulo Roberto Haidamus de Oliveira Bastos2, Maria Lucília Dos Santos3, Décio Iandoli4, Renata Boschi Portella5, Giancarlo Lucchetti6. 1. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul - Postgraduate Program in Health and Development, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, s/n - Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil. Electronic address: mabastosjr@terra.com.br. 2. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul - Postgraduate Program in Health and Development, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, s/n - Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil. 3. University of Brasília - Institute of Chemistry, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil. 4. Anhanguera-Uniderp University, Rua Ceará, 333 - Miguel Couto, Campo Grande, MS 79003-010, Brazil. 5. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul - Faculty of Medicine, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, s/n - Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil. 6. Federal University of Juiz de Fora - School of Medicine, Av. Eugênio do Nascimento, s/n - Dom Bosco, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-330, Brazil.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Mediumship is the alleged ability to communicate with deceased personalities. Previous studies have suggested that the endogenous psychotomimetic molecules bufotenine (BT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders. Distortion of perceptions observed during spiritual experiences could supposedly relate to these substances. OBJECTIVE: To compare the presence of BT and DMT in human urine samples between individuals with and without mediumistic experiences. METHODS: All participants (5 from medium's group - MG and 5 from non-medium's group - CG) undertook a single night continuous 6-h urine pool collection (6:00-11:59 PM). Mediums collected urine samples in nights when they reported having experienced mediumistic communication. A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) assay was used. Questionnaires were used to detect common mental disorders symptoms, and to screen and quantify anomalous experiences. RESULTS: DMT was not detected in any urine specimen tested. The presence of BT detection in urine samples was greater in CG (2/5) than in MG (1/5), with no significant differences (p > 0.99). MG reported more anomalous experiences than CG (6.6±0.8 vs. 2.2±1.5, p = 0.03), but there was no difference concerning their mental health. CONCLUSION: There were no differences between individuals with and without alleged mediumistic experiences concerning endogenous psychedelics. Both BT and DMT are highly sensitive to metabolism by monoamine oxidase and to N-oxidation, and do not survive in the periphery for long. Alternative strategies should be considered to further investigate the putative role of the endogenous psychedelics pathway for the spiritual experiences.
CONTEXT: Mediumship is the alleged ability to communicate with deceased personalities. Previous studies have suggested that the endogenous psychotomimetic molecules bufotenine (BT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders. Distortion of perceptions observed during spiritual experiences could supposedly relate to these substances. OBJECTIVE: To compare the presence of BT and DMT in human urine samples between individuals with and without mediumistic experiences. METHODS: All participants (5 from medium's group - MG and 5 from non-medium's group - CG) undertook a single night continuous 6-h urine pool collection (6:00-11:59 PM). Mediums collected urine samples in nights when they reported having experienced mediumistic communication. A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) assay was used. Questionnaires were used to detect common mental disorders symptoms, and to screen and quantify anomalous experiences. RESULTS:DMT was not detected in any urine specimen tested. The presence of BT detection in urine samples was greater in CG (2/5) than in MG (1/5), with no significant differences (p > 0.99). MG reported more anomalous experiences than CG (6.6±0.8 vs. 2.2±1.5, p = 0.03), but there was no difference concerning their mental health. CONCLUSION: There were no differences between individuals with and without alleged mediumistic experiences concerning endogenous psychedelics. Both BT and DMT are highly sensitive to metabolism by monoamine oxidase and to N-oxidation, and do not survive in the periphery for long. Alternative strategies should be considered to further investigate the putative role of the endogenous psychedelics pathway for the spiritual experiences.
Authors: Karleth Costa Spindola-Rodrigues; Renandro de Carvalho Reis; Caio Macedo de Carvalho; Socorro D'Paula Nayh Leite Loiola de Siqueira; Antonio Vitor da Rocha Neto; Kelson James Almeida Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-04-11