The Use of LSD in Psychotherapy and Alcoholism

Harold A Abramson, "The Use of LSD in Psychotherapy and Alcoholism"
Bobbs-Merrill | 1967 | ASIN: B000NXJ9YC | 697 pages | PDF | 10,1 Mb

In May, 1965, a group of investigators in the field of psychiatry met at South Oaks Hospital, in Amityville, New York. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange information and discuss problems regarding the use of a remarkable drug that has been a focus of research in psychiatry for more than twenty years. This drug, LSD-25, commonly called LSD, is a derivative of d-lysergic acid. Lysergic acid itself is the basis of many ergot compounds used daily in medicine. But LSD has a unique property which differentiates it from all other drugs. Even in extremely small doses, LSD produces a disturbance in mentation—in thinking processes, in perception of sound, light and color, in emotional reaction, in ideation. This disturbance is reversible. After a certain number of hours, the effect of LSD itself wears off.

Contrary to assertions in the popular press, when LSD is administered as part of a therapeutic medical program, “irreversible psychotic changes” and “brain damage” do not occur. Certain irresponsible statements that it does produce such adverse effects have not been supported by valid scientific evidence. The effect of LSD on many people resembles a psychotic state. The reason for this is that LSD creates an emotional storm during which a person frequently is able to recall forgotten or repressed events and early experience. Outwardly it may seem that the person is psychotic. Actually he is undergoing a complete re-evaluation of his self-image. LSD, if taken without proper supervision and under undesirable circumstances, can produce a reaction in unstable people which presents an alarming appearance and can lead to dangerous behavior. Like any other drug, LSD belongs in the hands of responsible medical authorities. In responsible hands, LSD is a valuable tool in hastening successful results of psychotherapy, as seen particularly with alcoholics, a group notoriously difficult to treat.

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