Archives of General Psychiatry
June 1, 1973
Charles Savage
150 citations
A controlled trial assigned 78 volunteer inmates with chronic heroin abuse to either a six-week residential program that included a single high-dose LSD session or to an outpatient clinic with daily urine checks and weekly group therapy. Among the 37 completers in each group, verified abstinence during the first year after discharge was significantly higher in the residential psychedelic therapy group.
American Journal of Psychiatry
June 1, 1952
Charles Savage
137 citations
A single oral dose of LSD as low as 20 micrograms produces depersonalization, derealization, and increased imagery in healthy individuals, while larger doses are needed to produce the same effects in psychotic patients. In a treatment study of 15 patients with depressive reactions given daily oral doses of 20–100 micrograms of LSD for one month, 3 recovered and 4 improved, 4 showed no improvement, and treatment was discontinued in 4 cases before proper evaluation. Anxiety was a prominent reaction; euphoria occurred less frequently. In 3 patients who developed euphoria, it aided psychotherapy by encouraging expression of feeling, whereas heightened anxiety in others encouraged reticence.
Pharmacopsychiatry
March 1, 1971
A. A. Kurland, Charles Savage, Walter N. Pahnke et al.
110 citations
A double-blind, controlled study with 135 chronic alcoholics tested whether a high dose of LSD (450 micrograms) as an adjunct to psychotherapy, called psychedelic peak therapy, improved outcomes more than a low dose (50 micrograms). Both groups were treated in a hospital and followed for 18 months. At 6 months, the high-dose group showed a statistically significant advantage in drinking behavior and global adjustment. However, this initial gain faded, and by 12 to 18 months there were no significant differences between groups. Despite this, both groups showed considerably better overall improvement than typical alcoholics in the same setting without LSD-assisted psychotherapy. Further research is needed to sustain initial benefits.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
September 1, 1955
Louis Cholden, Albert A. Kurland, Charles Savage
85 citations
In 1955, the author argued that schizophrenia, then often viewed as a purely psychological disorder, should be understood as a disease with biological and physiological roots, influenced by the emerging field of object-oriented programming in psychology. The paper critiques purely psychodynamic explanations and calls for integrating medical and neurological perspectives into schizophrenia research and treatment, advocating for a more holistic approach in psychiatry that considers both mental and physical factors.
American Journal of Psychiatry
April 1, 1967
Albert A. Kurland, Sanford M. Unger, John W. Shaffer et al.
56 citations
Psychedelic therapy for alcoholic patients may work by using LSD to induce a 'peak' experience that breaks through feelings of alienation. An exemplary session report and MMPI data from 69 pilot patients illustrate the approach. Current results suggest that adding psychedelic therapy significantly improves available alcoholic rehabilitation resources, but safe and effective use of LSD requires specialized training.
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs
September 1, 1970
Walter N. Pahnke, Albert A. Kurland, Sanford M. Unger et al.
45 citations
A 1970 article describes the use of LSD in psychedelic therapy for cancer patients. The authors report that LSD-assisted therapy can produce profound psychological experiences that help patients confront existential distress, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve their quality of life during terminal illness. The therapy involves carefully controlled sessions with psychological support. The text suggests that such treatment may lead to lasting positive changes in patients' attitudes toward death and their remaining time. However, the article is a clinical description and case report, not a controlled trial, and the findings are based on the authors' clinical observations rather than systematic data.
Psychological Reports
February 1, 1964
Charles Savage, Ethel Savage, James Fadiman et al.
25 citations
In a study of psychedelic therapy, patients received LSD and mescaline in a supportive setting after intensive preparation. Subjective questionnaires from 113 patients showed a high frequency of claimed benefit, a low frequency of negative reactions, and a strong link between claimed benefit and reports of 'greater awareness of ultimate reality' during the LSD experience. Clinical data from 74 cases, including blind ratings of MMPI profiles, supported the improvement rate. The total improvement rate was above 80%, with follow-ups ranging from 6 months to 2 years.