Glossary: Psychedelic Medicine

Decolonization

The ongoing process of identifying and dismantling colonial structures, assumptions, and power relations while restoring Indigenous self-determination, knowledge systems, governance, and cultural authority.

Default Mode Network (DMN)

A large-scale brain network involved in self-referential thinking, autobiographical memory, mind wandering, and maintenance of the sense of self. Classic psychedelics temporarily reduce the functional integrity of the DMN.

Delirium

An acute disturbance in attention, awareness, and cognition that develops over a short period and fluctuates in severity. Delirium is usually caused by an underlying medical condition, medication, or substance.

Delusion

A fixed false belief that persists despite clear contradictory evidence and is not explained by cultural or religious beliefs.

Depersonalization

A form of dissociation characterized by feeling detached from one's body, thoughts, emotions, or sense of self while reality testing remains intact.

Derealization

A dissociative experience in which the external world feels unreal, distant, dreamlike, or visually altered despite intact awareness that the perception is subjective.

Dissociation

A disruption or alteration in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body awareness, or behavior that may occur in response to trauma, stress, or certain psychoactive substances.

DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine)

A short-acting naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic found in numerous plants and trace amounts in mammals. DMT acts primarily through serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and produces intense alterations in consciousness when smoked, vaporized, or injected. It is inactive when taken orally unless combined with MAO inhibitors.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in motivation, reward, movement, reinforcement learning, and executive function.

Dosing Session

The supervised administration of a psychedelic or related medicine within a therapeutic protocol, emphasizing safety, observation, psychological support, and adherence to established clinical procedures.

Dual Relationships

Situations in which a clinician or facilitator has multiple roles with the same individual (e.g., therapist and friend), increasing the risk of impaired judgment or exploitation.