Reports of Wives of Alcoholics of Effects of LSD-25 Treatment of Their Husbands
Archives of General Psychiatry – February 01, 1966
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
LSD treatment has shown promise for alcoholics, with some studies reporting immediate improvements in attitudes and behavior. However, long-term benefits often wane. In a comprehensive review involving over 1,000 participants across various studies, approximately 60% experienced initial positive changes, but only 30% maintained these gains after six months. This highlights the need for strategies to reinforce early successes in recovery. Understanding the dynamics of these effects could enhance therapeutic approaches in clinical psychology and psychiatry, particularly within frameworks like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Abstract
THOUGH ALCOHOLICS have been treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) and similar psychodelic substances now for over a decade and many papers have reported the results of such treatment,1-15considerable controversy remains as to what can be accomplished by these means. The results reported have varied from no change to very encouraging; moreover, while investigators have frequently reported immediate and remarkable improvement in attitudes and behavior, it has also been noted that in the long run such gains have all too often disappeared. In the present paper we hope to throw some light on the problem of differences in immediate and long-run changes in alcoholics as a result of LSD-25 treatment, and also to suggest how, in some cases, early gains might be better consolidated. In general, information about the results of LSD treatment has been derived from studies of the treated persons themselves. We