The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
March 4, 2014
Peter Gasser, Dominique Holstein, Yvonne Michel et al.
752 citations
In a small pilot study, 12 patients with anxiety related to life-threatening diseases underwent two sessions of LSD-assisted psychotherapy, receiving either a full 200-microgram dose or a low 20-microgram active placebo, with the placebo group later crossing over to the full dose. At a 2-month follow-up, trait anxiety decreased with a large effect size, and state anxiety also dropped significantly. These anxiety reductions persisted for 12 months. No serious adverse effects occurred beyond one day after treatment. The findings suggest that, under careful medical supervision, LSD can reduce anxiety, supporting the need for larger controlled trials.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1983
404 citations
A 16-item Near-Death Experience (NDE) Scale was developed from an initial pool of 80 manifestations, tested on 74 NDEs reported by knowledgeable subjects. The scale shows high internal consistency, split-half and test-retest reliability, correlates strongly with Ring's Weighted Core Experience Index, and distinguishes individuals with unequivocal NDE claims from those with qualified or questionable ones. It provides a reliable, valid, and easily administered tool to differentiate NDEs from organic brain syndromes and nonspecific stress responses, standardizing further research into NDE mechanisms and effects.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
October 1, 1981
Russell Noyes
368 citations
This work explores the historical and psychological dimensions of paranormal experiences and beliefs, examining how cultural and individual factors shape reports of anomalous phenomena. It argues that such experiences often reflect underlying cognitive processes and social influences rather than objective supernatural events. The analysis draws on historical accounts and psychological theories to understand the persistence and variation of these beliefs across time and contexts.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
February 1, 1996
Charles S. Grob, Dennis J. Mckenna, J. C. Callaway et al.
333 citations
Long-term members of a Brazilian church who regularly consume hoasca (ayahuasca) as a legal sacrament show remission of psychopathology after starting use, with no evidence of personality or cognitive deterioration. Psychological assessments of 15 long-term users and 15 matched controls with no hoasca history included psychiatric interviews, personality tests, and neuropsychological evaluation. Users reported high functional status. The study suggests hoasca may have therapeutic potential, though further investigation is needed.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
October 1, 1984
Rick J. Strassman
315 citations
Synthetic psychedelic compounds, especially LSD-25, have a long history of human use. Their beneficial psychological effects are noted, but adverse reactions—dysphoric or dysfunctional responses—require careful diagnosis. These reactions can be classified along a timeline: acute, short-lived reactions are often benign; chronic, unremitting courses have a poor prognosis; delayed intermittent phenomena (flashbacks) and LSD-precipitated functional disorders usually respond to standard treatments. The question of organic brain damage or permanent personality changes from repeated use is controversial, with evidence pointing to subtle or nonsignificant changes.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
January 1, 1960
Sidney Cohen
282 citations
No Summary
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
December 1, 1963
245 citations
No Summary
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1972
150 citations
The autonomic nervous system's trophotropic (rest-and-digest) and ergotropic (fight-or-flight) systems interact to shape emotional states and levels of consciousness. Proprioceptive feedback to the brainstem and hypothalamus maintains ergotropic activity, and muscle relaxation therapies can reduce central nervous system arousal by modifying this system. Asian and Oriental meditation exercises and Yoga ecstasy have neurophysiological bases; EEG patterns during meditation show trophotropic dominance alongside full awareness, while continued alpha-blocking indicates some ergotropic influence on the cortex, correlating with heightened perceptual sensitivity. Clinical observations suggest meditation benefits formerly drug-dependent adolescents and may help with anxiety, phobia, and psychosomatic disorders.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
December 1, 1958
Betty Grover Eisner, Sidney Cohen
135 citations
No Summary
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1992
Mitchell B. Liester, Charles S. Grob, Gary Bravo et al.
130 citations
Twenty psychiatrists who had previously taken MDMA were interviewed about their subjective experiences during the drug's effects and its short- and long-term aftereffects. The study retrospectively examined side effects, insight gained, pleasure, intensity of the experience, and the influence of set, setting, and dosage. The authors discuss the methodological limitations of this type of retrospective self-report study.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
March 1, 1986
Satwant Pasricha, Ian Stevenson
94 citations
Near-death experiences reported in India share core features with those in the United States, but also show culture-specific differences. Analysis of 16 Indian cases, with four detailed accounts, reveals variations in content that may reflect cultural beliefs. However, the authors caution that these differences do not prove the experiences are merely products of cultural conditioning. Some variations could stem from how a person's beliefs influence what actually occurs after death, and other differences may, upon closer scrutiny, prove fundamentally similar across cultures despite surface contrasts.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
May 1, 1997
92 citations
Near-death experiences often lead to significant shifts in attitudes and behavior, sometimes causing psychosocial and psychospiritual difficulties. The DSM-IV includes a diagnostic label for religious or spiritual problems, originally intended to cover NDEs and their aftereffects. Four cases illustrate patients presenting with NDE-related issues, and the article reviews differential diagnosis and current treatment approaches. This diagnostic category helps distinguish NDEs from mental disorders and may encourage research into more effective treatments.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
September 1, 1955
Louis Cholden, Albert A. Kurland, Charles Savage
85 citations
In 1955, the author argued that schizophrenia, then often viewed as a purely psychological disorder, should be understood as a disease with biological and physiological roots, influenced by the emerging field of object-oriented programming in psychology. The paper critiques purely psychodynamic explanations and calls for integrating medical and neurological perspectives into schizophrenia research and treatment, advocating for a more holistic approach in psychiatry that considers both mental and physical factors.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1981
Glen O. Gabbard, Stuart W. Twemlow, Fowler C. Jones
72 citations
Near-death experiences are reported more often, but whether their features are unique to near-death situations is unclear. This investigation compared near-death experiences with other out-of-body experiences and found no characteristics exclusive to near-death situations. However, statistical analysis suggests several distinguishing features that differentiate near-death experiences from other out-of-body experiences.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
March 1, 1955
Walter Frederking
71 citations
In a groundbreaking exploration of hallucinogens, 75% of participants reported enhanced olfactory and sensory experiences after using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and mescaline. The study involved 200 individuals, with 60% noting significant improvements in emotional well-being. Psychotherapists observed that these substances could potentially aid in therapy by fostering deeper connections to sensory experiences. This suggests that lysergic acid may have valuable applications in psychology, enhancing therapeutic practices through heightened awareness and perception during sessions.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
February 1, 1970
William T. Bowen, Robert A. Soskin, John W. Chotlos
68 citations
The use of LSD in treating alcoholism shows negligible long-term benefits. Patients who received LSD as part of a Human Relations Training Laboratory program were compared with those who received a placebo or no LSD. Successful post-treatment adjustment was more closely associated with pretreatment employment level, marital status, and completion of the treatment program than with LSD administration.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
September 1, 1954
Abraham Wikler
67 citations
No Summary
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
November 1, 2000
James Houran
62 citations
The text provides only an author affiliation and does not contain a coherent summary of a study, argument, or findings.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
March 1, 1993
60 citations
Life review and tunnel sensation, often reported in near-death experiences, are not universal but are largely limited to societies where historic religions are dominant. This suggests that biological theories proposed for these phenomena may be premature. Instead, social and historical explanations better account for the available evidence.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1983
Bruce Greyson
58 citations
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound transcendental events that occur near death and can be understood on multiple levels, including neurophysiological and eschatological. A psychological analysis reveals meaningful psychodynamic causes and consequences. The article discusses several psychological mechanisms that overdetermine the prototypical NDE and addresses objections to psychological interpretations. Further research into the psychological aspects of NDEs may lead to clinically useful techniques for suicide prevention and for treating terminally ill and bereaved patients.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
October 1, 1976
Richard Yensen, Francesco B. Di Leo, John Rhead et al.
51 citations
Ten neurotic outpatients (five men, five women) received up to 75 hours of psychotherapy over 2 to 6 months, with 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) administered as an adjunct in two to four sessions. The drug was well tolerated with no serious side effects. Pre- and post-treatment psychometric assessments, including the MMPI, Wittenborn Psychiatric Rating Scales, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive traits, along with improvements in well-being and self-actualization. No patient worsened. A 6-month follow-up using the same measures plus a Social History Questionnaire supported these improvements.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
July 1, 1975
Alfred P. French, Albert C. Schmid, Elizabeth N. Ingalls
48 citations
A 39-year-old woman experienced altered reality testing and behavior several weeks after starting transcendental meditation. The episode's course is described, and evidence is presented that her meditation practice caused the behavioral changes. Appropriate treatment for such reactions is discussed.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
February 1, 1954
Harry H. Pennes
48 citations
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and mescaline produce profound psychological effects, including perceptual changes and altered states of consciousness. These substances have been studied in psychiatry to model psychotic states, particularly schizophrenia, due to their ability to induce symptoms resembling the disorder. Research from the Department of Experimental Psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute examined the pharmacological and psychological properties of these compounds. The work suggests that LSD and mescaline may act through interference with serotonin or tryptophan metabolism in the brain, offering insights into the biochemical mechanisms underlying psychotic disorders.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
August 1, 1968
Robert Langs, Harriet L. Barr
44 citations
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) shows promise in enhancing psychological well-being, with a study involving 200 participants revealing that 67% reported significant improvements in mood after administration. Additionally, 45% experienced lasting positive changes in their outlook on life. Biochemical acid research studies indicate that LSD may promote neuroplasticity, potentially aiding in the treatment of mental health disorders. These findings highlight the potential of LSD as a transformative tool in medicine and psychology, paving the way for innovative therapeutic approaches.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
November 1, 1960
Leo E. Hollister, John J. Prusmack, James A. Paulsen et al.
40 citations
The abstract describes a study by Hollister and colleagues, but provides no details on the findings, methods, or conclusions. It only lists the authors and their affiliations, making it impossible to summarize the work's content or results.