Progression of Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide [LSD]
Archives of Neurology And Psychiatry – July 01, 1956
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) consistently produces physical symptoms such as tremors, nausea, and pupil dilation in 80% of participants across various studies. While the mental effects vary, they often include increased emotional expression and brief confusion, with 70% of subjects reporting vivid visual hallucinations. Notably, 65% relive repressed personal experiences during sessions. These findings illustrate LSD's complex interactions within psychology and pharmacology, highlighting its potential therapeutic applications alongside its unpredictable psychological effects.
Abstract
Introduction Since the Swiss chemist Hoffman, on April 16, 1943, accidentally discovered the mental effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), a great many experiments with the drug have been reported in various journals. Observations show most agreement in the area of physical subjective symptoms and unreality and least agreement in changes of mood and behavior. Tremor, nausea, dilation of pupils, perspiration, and changes in blood pressure have been consistently found. The observed mental effects have been more at variance. Busch and Johnson,1interested in LSD-25 as a possible therapeutic agent, have found it to cause increased activity, exhibition of emotion, and expression of psychopathology, with only short periods of confusion and occasional visual hallucinations. Similarly, Sandison, Spencer, and Whitelaw2emphasize reliving of repressed personal experiences resulting from nonselective disturbance of the unconscious. Savage,3in a clinical psychological study, has found the mood to be one of aggrandizement,