Archives of General Psychiatry
August 1, 1983
Henry David Abraham
172 citations
Among 123 people who had used LSD, a syndrome of ten specific distance visual disturbances was identified, persisting for five years in half of the group. The condition responded to benzodiazepines, worsened with phenothiazines, and could be triggered by 19 different stimuli, most often entering a dark environment. Compared with 40 control participants, the data suggest that sensitivity to LSD, as indicated by flashbacks, divides the sample into three distinct subgroups, and a genetic basis for this sensitivity may exist.
Addiction
October 1, 1993
Henry David Abraham, Andrew M. Aldridge
140 citations
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use is linked to panic reactions, prolonged schizoaffective psychoses, and a post-hallucinogen perceptual disorder that can persist for up to 5 years. Evidence does not support claims that hallucinogens cause genetic disorders. Current data confirm earlier findings that LSD can lead to long-lasting psychopathology in vulnerable individuals. A hypothetical long-term molecular mechanism for these adverse effects is proposed.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
June 1, 1996
Henry David Abraham, Anitra Mamen
50 citations
Risperidone, a medication that blocks serotonin-2 and dopamine D2 receptors, worsened symptoms in three patients with hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD), a condition sometimes triggered by LSD that causes ongoing visual disturbances and panic. The exacerbation of LSD-like panic and visual symptoms suggests that HPPD may be a relative contraindication for risperidone use.
The British Journal of Psychiatry
May 1, 1982
Henry David Abraham
40 citations
People who used LSD performed worse on a color discrimination test about two years after their last dose compared to non-users. Among the LSD users, those who did not experience flashbacks performed better than those who did. The differences between the three groups were statistically significant, suggesting that some LSD users may have a lasting or irreversible impairment in color discrimination.
Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
January 1, 2007
Rif S. El-Mallakh, Henry David Abraham
17 citations
MDMA (Ecstasy) is a synthetic amphetamine analogue used recreationally for its mood-enhancing effects, and its use is increasing among young people in Western countries. Unlike traditional drugs of abuse, MDMA dependence and dose escalation are relatively uncommon. However, MDMA is neurotoxic, damaging serotonergic neurons and impairing memory and mood. There are few effective treatments for acute intoxication or the long-term consequences of use. The literature indicates MDMA has a wide range of adverse effects.
American Journal of Psychiatry
April 1, 1983
Henry David Abraham
7 citations
In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, the serotonin precursor L-5-hydroxytryptophan reversed the symptoms of a 23-year-old man with LSD-induced psychosis, compared to a placebo. This finding suggests that some LSD-induced psychotic disorders may stem from a relative deficiency of central nervous system serotonin.
Archives of General Psychiatry
June 1, 1984
Henry David Abraham
6 citations
The author responds to a suggestion that visual disturbances described in LSD users also occur in non-users. While a careful history is key to diagnosing LSD flashback syndrome, clinicians must first rule out more dangerous and treatable causes of visual disturbances, including brain lesions, infections, metabolic issues, deliria, dementias, sleep disturbances, and eye disorders. In the author's study, two non-LSD-using control subjects reported eight and nine types of visual disturbances with no diagnostic explanation found, while other controls reported five or fewer. This suggests that some individuals without LSD use experience multiple unexplained visual disturbances.