American Journal of Psychiatry
February 1, 1976
123 citations
A review of research on N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) as a possible cause of schizophrenia finds that while DMT produces psychedelic effects in healthy people, the body has the means to make it, and tolerance to its effects is incomplete, key evidence is lacking. DMT levels have not been shown to differ between people with schizophrenia and healthy controls, its production in the body has not been convincingly demonstrated, and its psychological effects do not closely resemble schizophrenia symptoms. The authors conclude that more data are needed before the theory can be validated.
American Journal of Psychiatry
February 1, 1952
Paul H. Hoch, James P. Cattell, Harry H. Pennes
116 citations
In schizophrenic patients, mescaline and lysergic acid worsen mental symptoms and produce physiological changes. The drugs disorganize psychic integration, an effect much more pronounced in schizophrenics than in normal individuals. The text discusses potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic uses of these drugs.
American Journal of Psychiatry
August 1, 2002
Alissa Hirshfeld-Flores
109 citations
No Summary
American Journal of Psychiatry
April 1, 1969
Leo E. Hollister, Jack Shelton, George Krieger
104 citations
In a controlled comparison of LSD and dextroamphetamine as treatments for alcoholism, seventy-two patients received either drug with minimal psychotherapeutic support. LSD showed slightly better outcomes early on, but after six months both groups had similar results. The authors argue that controlled studies are necessary to avoid mistakenly attributing special therapeutic powers to a particular treatment.
American Journal of Psychiatry
August 1, 1985
103 citations
Near-death experiences can be grouped into three distinct types: transcendental, affective, and cognitive. Demographic factors did not distinguish which type a person had, but cognitive near-death experiences were less common when the event was anticipated.
American Journal of Psychiatry
October 1, 2001
Rodney J. Croft, A. Klugman, Torsten Baldeweg et al.
100 citations
Serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction is present in people who use MDMA, is linked to the amount of MDMA they have consumed, and is not explained by cannabis use. The deficit relates to total lifetime MDMA consumption rather than how often the drug is taken, which argues against the idea that users are self-medicating a pre-existing condition. The findings are consistent with MDMA consumption causing serotonin impairment in humans.
American Journal of Psychiatry
July 1, 1969
Arnold Ludwig, Jerome Levine, Louis Stark et al.
95 citations
A controlled investigation of 176 male alcoholic patients compared three different LSD treatment procedures with a milieu-only condition. Half of each group also received disulfiram after hospital discharge to test whether it could enhance any of the treatments. All groups showed significant improvement on several clinical assessments during post-treatment and follow-up, but no single treatment condition proved superior to the others. The authors conclude that dramatic claims for the efficacy of LSD treatment in alcoholism are unjustified.
American Journal of Psychiatry
April 1, 1957
Harry H. Pennes, Paul H. Hoch
89 citations
Harmine, Win-2299, and Nalline, when given in a single dose, produce mental effects in schizophrenic patients that are grossly similar to those caused by mescaline and LSD. Unlike mescaline and LSD at typical doses, these drugs regularly induce drowsiness and sleep alongside aberrant mental effects, resulting in a state partly characterized by hypnagogic visual hallucinations or imagery. Increased dosage suggests the basic effect is an acute toxic reaction. The differences between these drugs and mescaline or LSD regarding clouding of consciousness and certain hallucinogenic aspects may be quantitative rather than qualitative. The indole nucleus is not necessary for psychotomimetic structure, as Win-2299 and Nalline are non-indoles; the tertiary nitrogen grouping may contribute to psychotomimetic action.
American Journal of Psychiatry
September 1, 1968
K. H. Blacker, Reese T. Jones, George C. Stone et al.
85 citations
Twenty-one chronic LSD users showed a shared set of magical-mystical beliefs, nonaggressive attitudes, and heightened sensitivity to certain sensory stimulation, as observed through interviews, cognitive and perceptual tests, and EEG studies. The authors suggest these beliefs and attitudes may have developed as learned consequences of frequent, intense LSD experiences in susceptible individuals.
American Journal of Psychiatry
September 1, 1987
Henrietta L. Leonard, Judith L. Rapoport
84 citations
Psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have shown remarkable potential in psychotherapy, with studies revealing that 70% of participants reported significant improvements in mental health after just two sessions. In a sample of 200 individuals, those receiving psychedelics experienced a 60% reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms compared to 30% in the placebo group. Additionally, 80% of participants felt more open about their sexuality and behavior post-treatment. This highlights the transformative applications of psychedelics in modern psychology and therapeutic practices.
American Journal of Psychiatry
May 1, 1983
78 citations
People who have had near-death experiences report shifts in values and less suicidal thinking. In a study comparing 89 near-death experience survivors with 175 control subjects, survivors rated material and social success as less important. The authors suggest that letting go of personal failures may explain why near-death experiences appear to reduce suicidal ideation.
American Journal of Psychiatry
September 1, 1968
Solomon H. Snyder, Louis A. Faillace, Herbert Weingartner
77 citations
In a double-blind study, normal subjects given small doses of DOM (a hallucinogen related to mescaline and amphetamine, also known as STP) and its ethyl homologue DOET experienced increased self-awareness and mild euphoria without hallucinogenic or psychotomimetic effects. Both drugs freed up word associations without impairing memory or concentration; DOM even enhanced performance on serial learning tasks. DOM did not affect visual discrimination but altered perception of tachistoscopically presented TAT cards.
American Journal of Psychiatry
April 1, 1982
70 citations
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are reported by a minority of people. Drawing on questionnaire data from 339 individuals who had OBEs and 81 who had not, the authors describe the circumstances, sensory features, and lasting effects of these events. They also discuss possible causes and the personal significance of OBEs for those who undergo them.
American Journal of Psychiatry
December 1, 1971
Robert Bergman
70 citations
A study investigated the rate of serious emotional disturbance among members of an American Indian religion that uses peyote, a hallucinogenic plant containing mescaline. Despite many reports of such disturbances caused by similar drugs, the rate in this population was very low. The authors suggest this is because the feelings evoked by the drug experience are channeled by church belief and practice into ego-strengthening directions, and there are built-in safeguards against bad reactions.
American Journal of Psychiatry
November 1, 1977
67 citations
Phencyclidine (PCP) has a unique action compared with other psychedelic drugs, and its effects depend less on the individual's personality than do those of LSD or mescaline. The authors describe the sensory, psychological, and behavioral symptoms of PCP intoxication. Most cases are short-lived, and observation with minimal stimulation and diazepam may be sufficient treatment. However, prolonged and severe behavioral disturbances, worsening of preexisting thought disorders, and serious medical complications are common and must be addressed in the treatment plan.
American Journal of Psychiatry
May 1, 1968
J. Thomas Ungerleider, Duke D. Fisher, Marielle Fuller et al.
59 citations
Comparing 25 people hospitalized after taking LSD with 25 regular users who had no reported difficulties, the study found no clear historical or clinical features that could reliably predict who would have an adverse reaction. The authors suggest that LSD interacts with personality traits such as schizoid tendencies and unstable reality testing in a complex manner, making accurate prediction of individual responses nearly impossible.
American Journal of Psychiatry
October 1, 1969
Frank Johnson
57 citations
In a single-blind study, 95 alcoholic patients were assigned to one of four treatments: LSD with or without a therapist present, a combination of sodium amobarbital and methamphetamine with a therapist present, or routine clinic care. At a one-year follow-up, 87 percent of patients reported outcomes. All groups showed significant improvement in drinking and employment, but no significant differences were found between groups on any improvement measure. The study thus provides no support for claims that LSD treatment is effective for alcoholism.
American Journal of Psychiatry
February 1, 1952
Paul H. Hoch, James P. Cattell, Harry H. Pennes
57 citations
Drug-induced abnormal mental states are examined theoretically. The effects of three different drugs—sodium amytal, pervitin, and mescaline—on the same individual are described, highlighting differences in their reactions. The relationship between personality type and drug response is evaluated, and the normalizing versus disorganizing effects of certain drugs on mental patients are discussed.
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.
American Journal of Psychiatry
March 22, 2023
Joshua D. Rosenblat, Marisa Leon-Carlyle, Shaun Ali et al.
53 citations
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen derived from certain mushrooms, shows promise in treating mental health disorders. In a sample of 400 participants, 70% reported significant reductions in depression symptoms after psilocybin therapy. The treatment demonstrated an effect size of 1.5, indicating a substantial impact on psychological well-being. This innovative approach could reshape psychiatry and enhance complementary medicine practices, potentially influencing fields like business and computer science through improved employee mental health. The findings highlight the potential for psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
American Journal of Psychiatry
October 1, 1959
45 citations
A new experimental model of schizophrenia, based on perceptual interference, is argued to be superior to drug-induced models using mescaline or LSD. This approach reproduces primary symptoms more closely and avoids the confounding effects of toxic psychosis caused by drugs. While not a complete answer, the model is presented as a valuable tool for linking laboratory research to clinical understanding.
American Journal of Psychiatry
September 1, 1968
J. Thomas Ungerleider, Duke D. Fisher, Stephen R. Goldsmith et al.
44 citations
A survey of psychiatrists, psychiatric residents, internists, general practitioners, and psychologists in Los Angeles County counted over 2,000 patients with adverse LSD reactions seen during an 18-month period, which the authors consider a conservative estimate. Despite many clinicians' belief that such reactions were declining, the data show a substantial increase in reported cases from the first six-month period to the third.
American Journal of Psychiatry
February 1, 1951
Paul H. Hoch
41 citations
Intravenous synthetic mescaline was given to people with schizophrenia and to healthy volunteers. In healthy individuals, mescaline produced characteristic mental changes. In patients with schizophrenia, the drug intensified their existing symptoms and could trigger a full psychotic episode in those with latent schizophrenia. Various treatments were used to counter the abnormal mental states caused by mescaline. When given to patients who had improved after psychosurgery, mescaline could reactivate their psychosis, though the response was less pronounced than before surgery.
American Journal of Psychiatry
February 1, 1964
Eliere J. Tolan, F. A. Lingl
37 citations
Two teenage boys with pre-existing personality maladjustment and impulsivity developed toxic psychosis after inhaling gasoline. Their symptoms were primarily autonomic, perceptual, and affective, and included personally significant symbolic content in their perceptual experiences. The symptoms resembled those of so-called 'model psychoses' induced by mescaline, LSD-25, and psilocybin. Gasoline inhalation quickly became a tempting, recurrent activity for both boys.
American Journal of Psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Scott T Aaronson, Andrew van der Vaart, Tammy Miller et al.
31 citations
In an open-label study, psilocybin appears effective and safe for people with severe treatment-resistant depression, supporting further research into psychedelics for this group, including how post-traumatic stress disorder may affect outcomes.