Salvia Divinorum & Depersonalization Disorder

Depersonalization disorder is one of the least-studied areas of neurobiological research. However, according to the "Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders," the experience of feeling like you are watching yourself from a distance, being in a dream or fog, disconnection from your own thoughts or emotions, or even "out-of-body" experiences, are remarkably common. In fact, 23 percent of the adult population in the United States has experienced short-lived moments of depersonalization. When this experience becomes a chronic condition, however, it can be debilitating for the sufferer. The plant Salvia divinorum contains a chemical that frequently causes a brief period of depersonalization when ingested, an experience that as many as two-thirds of users find they do not wish to repeat.

Depersonalization Neurobiology

The etiology of depersonalization disorder is complex, as are the pathways in the brain that may be responsible for the experience. Childhood trauma is a common risk factor, while severe stress, depression, panic and ingestion of marijuana or hallucinogens are the most common precipitants. Our understanding of both short-term depersonalization during pain and traumatic events and depersonalization disorder is largely based on our knowledge of the drugs that reliably produce the experience. Users of ketamine, cannabis and serotonergic hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin can experience depersonalization while under the influence. This has led researchers to suspect that depersonalization can be mediated via the NMDA, anandamide or 5HT-cc neurochemical pathways. The body is also capable of causing depersonalization as an adaptive mechanism during moments of extreme pain, moderated through κ-opioid activity, the same pathway used by Salvia divinorum's active ingredient, Salvinorin A.

Salvia Divinorum Pharmacology

Discovered in the mid-1990s by Daniel Siebert, Salvinorin A belongs to a new class of psychoactive chemicals called trans-neoclerodane diterpenoids. According to Dr. Bryan Roth of Case Western Reserve, this chemical is the first κ-opioid receptor agonist found in the plant kingdom. Due to its extremely high potency and negligible toxicity, Salvinorin A and its related chemicals are now being researched as potential psychotherapeutic agents.

Depersonalization Disorder Etiology

Although the experience of depersonalization is extremely common due to Salvinorin A's κ-opioid receptor site activity, its extremely short half-life in the body makes it extremely unlikely that it will trigger depersonalization disorder in users. At present, there are no known reports of depersonalization disorder developing from use of Salvia divinorum, even among heavy users. However, should users develop the disorder, they may be responsive to treatment with a selective κ-opioid antagonist. Unfortunately, while selective κ-opioid antagonists do exist as research chemicals, none have yet been approved for human therapeutic use.

Salvia Divinorum Legality

Although at present Salvia divinorum is not federally regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, several states and municipalities have passed legislation limiting its use. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has listed Salvia divinorum as a drug of concern and is considering classifying it as a Schedule I drug, like LSD and marijuana. Should Salvia divinorum become scheduled, Salvinorin A and its analogues will no longer be able to be studied as prospective new therapeutic drugs.