Psychedelic crossings: American mental health and LSD in the 1970s.
Med Humanit June 23, 2019 Lucas Richert, Erika Dyck 17 citations
LSD research and use in American mental health during the 1970s was far from settled, with researchers continuing to push regulatory limits and attempt to transform mental healthcare. This article examines connections between LSD, mental health, and the broader cultural setting, avoiding simple narratives of rise or decline. LSD bridged biomedical concepts of health and cure with individuals' subjective needs, bringing together humanities, arts, social sciences, health policy, medical education, patient experience, and the public, while also dividing opinion. Drawing on archival materials, medical literature, and popular culture, the work offers a fresh approach to understanding cultural and countercultural-based healthcare in that era.