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'''Stephen Szára''' (born 1923) is a [[Hungarian people|Hungarian]] [[chemist]] and [[psychiatrist]] who has made major contributions in the field of [[pharmacology]]. |
'''Stephen Szára''' (born 1923) is a [[Hungarian people|Hungarian]] [[chemist]] and [[psychiatrist]] who has made major contributions in the field of [[pharmacology]]. |
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Szára was the first to scientifically study the [[psychotropic]] effects of [[Dimethyltryptamine|''N,N''-Dimethyltryptamine]] (DMT), performing research with volunteers in the mid-1950s.<ref> |
Szára was the first to scientifically study the [[psychotropic]] effects of [[Dimethyltryptamine|''N,N''-Dimethyltryptamine]] (DMT), performing research with volunteers in the mid-1950s.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=13384414}}</ref> Szára had turned his attention to DMT after his order for [[LSD]] from the [[Swiss]] company [[Sandoz|Sandoz Laboratories]] was rejected on the grounds that the powerful psychotropic could be dangerous in the hands of a [[communist]] country. |
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Shortly after the [[Hungarian Revolution]], Szára moved to the United States where he eventually became Chief of the Biomedical Branch of the U.S. [[National Institute on Drug Abuse]]. In the U.S., he worked with [[Julius Axlerod]] and others on the metabolism of DMT and related compounds in healthy and schizophrenic volunteers. Among other achievements, Szára and his colleagues characterized the biochemistry of the first three psychedelic cogeners of tryptamine: dimethyl-, diethyl-, and dipropyl-tryptamine ([[Dimethyltryptamine|DMT]],[[Diethyltryptamine| DET]], and [[Dipropyltryptamine| DPT]]), describing their pharmacokinetics and effects. |
Shortly after the [[Hungarian Revolution]], Szára moved to the United States where he eventually became Chief of the Biomedical Branch of the U.S. [[National Institute on Drug Abuse]]. In the U.S., he worked with [[Julius Axlerod]] and others on the metabolism of DMT and related compounds in healthy and schizophrenic volunteers. Among other achievements, Szára and his colleagues characterized the biochemistry of the first three psychedelic cogeners of tryptamine: dimethyl-, diethyl-, and dipropyl-tryptamine ([[Dimethyltryptamine|DMT]],[[Diethyltryptamine| DET]], and [[Dipropyltryptamine| DPT]]), describing their pharmacokinetics and effects. |
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Szára's research explored both the possibility that some tryptamines (DMT, in particular) might contribute to psychosis by forming in the brain as well as the possibility that some psychedelics might be useful in psychotherapy.<ref> |
Szára's research explored both the possibility that some tryptamines (DMT, in particular) might contribute to psychosis by forming in the brain as well as the possibility that some psychedelics might be useful in psychotherapy.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=6076017}}</ref> In recent years, Szára has argued that [[psychedelic drugs]] should be studied in a 'heuristic' manner and that learning the mechanisms by which they affect the brain may "serve as keys to unlock the mysteries of the brain/mind relationship".<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=8742793}}</ref> |
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Szára is an Emeritus Fellow of the [[American College of Neuropsychopharmacology]] and [[Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum]], and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the [[Heffter Research Institute]]. |
Szára is an Emeritus Fellow of the [[American College of Neuropsychopharmacology]] and [[Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum]], and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the [[Heffter Research Institute]]. He was elected Honorary Member of the Hungarian Association of Psychopharmacology in 2007. He is also recipient of the [[Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration]] Administrator's Meritorious Achievement Award and the Kovats Medal of Freedom from the American Hungarian Federation (2005).<ref>{{cite book |last=Simon |first=Andrew L |title=Made in Hungary: Hungarian Contributions to Universal Culture |publisher=Simon Publishing |year=1998 |location=Safety Harbor, FL |pages=344-345 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cMxL4OUv-gEC&pg=PA334&dq=%22Stephen+Sz%C3%A1ra%22&as_brr=3&sig=dT-9WIdGdZXO0BDzx8Zdad_Xcuc#PPA334,M1 |oclc=41712910 |isbn=978-0-9665734-2-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=18510265}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 15:00, 26 October 2009
Stephen Szára (born 1923) is a Hungarian chemist and psychiatrist who has made major contributions in the field of pharmacology.
Szára was the first to scientifically study the psychotropic effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), performing research with volunteers in the mid-1950s.[1] Szára had turned his attention to DMT after his order for LSD from the Swiss company Sandoz Laboratories was rejected on the grounds that the powerful psychotropic could be dangerous in the hands of a communist country.
Shortly after the Hungarian Revolution, Szára moved to the United States where he eventually became Chief of the Biomedical Branch of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. In the U.S., he worked with Julius Axlerod and others on the metabolism of DMT and related compounds in healthy and schizophrenic volunteers. Among other achievements, Szára and his colleagues characterized the biochemistry of the first three psychedelic cogeners of tryptamine: dimethyl-, diethyl-, and dipropyl-tryptamine (DMT, DET, and DPT), describing their pharmacokinetics and effects.
Szára's research explored both the possibility that some tryptamines (DMT, in particular) might contribute to psychosis by forming in the brain as well as the possibility that some psychedelics might be useful in psychotherapy.[2] In recent years, Szára has argued that psychedelic drugs should be studied in a 'heuristic' manner and that learning the mechanisms by which they affect the brain may "serve as keys to unlock the mysteries of the brain/mind relationship".[3]
Szára is an Emeritus Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Heffter Research Institute. He was elected Honorary Member of the Hungarian Association of Psychopharmacology in 2007. He is also recipient of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration Administrator's Meritorious Achievement Award and the Kovats Medal of Freedom from the American Hungarian Federation (2005).[4][5]
References
- ^ . PMID 13384414.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ . PMID 6076017.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ . PMID 8742793.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Simon, Andrew L (1998). Made in Hungary: Hungarian Contributions to Universal Culture. Safety Harbor, FL: Simon Publishing. pp. 344–345. ISBN 978-0-9665734-2-8. OCLC 41712910.
- ^ . PMID 18510265.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help)
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