Psychotomimetic Compensation and Sensitization
Ari Brouwer, Robin Carhart-Harris, Charles L. Raison preprint
A paradox exists: drugs that can induce psychosis-like effects (psychotomimetics) also relieve symptoms that increase psychosis risk, such as attention deficits, pain, and depression. The authors introduce two concepts to explain this. Psychotomimetic compensation is a stress- or drug-induced adjustment that counteracts stress, engaging neurotransmitter systems (endocannabinoid, serotonergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic) also activated by psychotomimetic drugs. Psychotomimetic sensitization occurs after repeated stress or drug exposure, gradually intensifying psychotic-like experiences. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.