Dream Becomes Nightmare: Adverse Reactions to LSD
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1985 David E. Smith, Richard B. Seymour 14 citations
Adverse reactions to LSD, including terrifying experiences akin to nightmares, are examined through clinical case histories and psychoanalytic interpretation. The paper argues that such reactions often stem from unresolved psychological conflicts and the user's set and setting, rather than being purely pharmacological. It describes how the drug can amplify latent anxieties, leading to panic, paranoia, and prolonged psychotic episodes in vulnerable individuals. The authors suggest that these adverse reactions reveal the deep psychological significance of the LSD experience, linking it to dream states and the unconscious mind.