Rafael dos Santos

Rafael G. dos Santos is a Brazilian clinical researcher specialising in the psychopharmacology and clinical application of serotonergic psychedelics, with a particular focus on ayahuasca and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). He has co‑authored experimental and clinical studies ranging from controlled trials examining rapid antidepressant effects after a single ayahuasca dose to pilot randomised, placebo‑controlled work in social anxiety disorder, and neuroimaging investigations (SPECT) exploring acute and subacute brain correlates. Dos Santos has also contributed to comprehensive reviews on the history, pharmacology and therapeutic potential of classic psychedelics and to literature synthesising safety and public‑health aspects of ritual ayahuasca use.

Across clinical trials, observational cohort studies and narrative/systematic reviews, Dos Santos has emphasised translational links between traditional ceremonial contexts and clinical practice, safety profiling, and plausible neurobiological mechanisms (serotonergic 5‑HT2A receptor engagement and downstream networks). His work has helped to establish evidence supporting rapid mood and anxiety symptom change following ayahuasca administration, while also highlighting limitations, potential risks (for example in individuals with a history of psychosis or mania), and the need for larger, longer‑term randomised studies to define efficacy and optimise therapeutic protocols.