STUDIES ON MESCALINE VIII: PSYCHODYNAMIC OBSERVATIONS
American Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 1958 DOI: 10.1176/ajp.115.3.239 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn a review of psychodynamic observations from 124 patients given mescaline, the drug produces a wide-ranging state of being that can vary from sleep to rage and from normalcy to severely disorganized mental states. Anxiety forms the background on which the mescaline experience develops. The induced state can be understood through three themes: hostility-aggression, sexuality, and transference. Recurring symbolic gestures, many sexual in nature, were noted. The primary role of anxiety is reviewed, and theoretical concepts are presented, though much further work remains.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 124 |
| Population | Patients given mescaline |
| Intervention | Mescaline |
| Topics | Anxiety Mescaline |
| Keywords | Psychodynamics Psychology Aggression |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | Mescaline produces a state ranging from sleep to rage and normalcy to disorganization, with anxiety as a background, and can be understood through hostility-aggression, sexuality, and transference. |
Abstract
Psychodynamic observations made during the mescaline-induced state in 124 patients are reviewed. Mescaline produces a "state of being" in which the clinical spectrum can range from sleep to rage and from normalcy to thoroughly disorganized mental states. Anxiety is considered the background upon which the mescaline experience evolves. One may consider the mescaline-induced state under three headings: 1. Hostility-aggression, 2. Sexuality, and 3. The transference. Various recurring symbolic gestures were noted, and many were frequently of a sexual nature. The primary role of anxiety is reviewed and some theoretical concepts presented. Much further work remains to be done.