Matthew Oram, The Trials of Psychedelic Therapy: LSD Psychotherapy in America
Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences January 13, 2020 Michael Draper 1 citation
A recent resurgence of interest in psychedelics—evident in popular culture, decriminalization efforts, and a wave of clinical studies—forms the backdrop for Matthew Oram's book, which traces the history of LSD psychotherapy research in post-World War II America. Oram focuses not on 1960s drug culture but on the fraught relationship between experimental therapies and state-regulated medical research. His account examines tensions between fringe and orthodox medicine, showing how LSD once promised to bridge cognitive therapy and psychiatric drug treatment. The book offers a nuanced contribution to the historical literature on clinical medicine, drug regulation, and the mind sciences.