A Controlled Study of LSD Treatment in Alcoholism and Neurosis
The British Journal of Psychiatry – April 01, 1970
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Lysergide, a psychedelic, has shown promise in treating various psychiatric conditions but lacks confirmation through controlled studies. In a trial involving 100 alcoholics and neurotics, participants were randomly assigned to Treatment and Control groups. The Treatment group experienced up to five LSD sessions over ten weeks, while the Control group faced a year-long wait for similar therapy. Both groups continued standard care from their psychotherapists. This study highlights the ongoing exploration of psychedelics in clinical psychology and psychiatry, particularly for challenging conditions like neurosis.
Abstract
Favourable results have been reported from the use of lysergide in a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, but controlled studies (2, 3, 4) have not confirmed the existence of a therapeutic effect. In this experiment, alcoholics and neurotics who had been referred by Saskatoon psychiatrists for LSD treatment were allocated at random to Treatment and Control groups after undergoing a series of psychological tests. The members of the Treatment group were offered up to five LSD experiences at intervals of two weeks, whereas those in the Control group were informed that this type of therapy would be made available to them after a twelve-month waiting period. Accounts of the LSD experiences were sent to the referring psychiatrists, who were expected to continue to provide standard treatment to the members of both groups.