Psychoanalysis and psychedelics: The censored story in Argentina.
Rodolfo Olivieri, Luís Fernando Tófoli
International Journal of Drug Policy November 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104596 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psychedelic substances |
| Topics | LSD Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | 20th century Argentina Psychedelic drugs Psychoanalytic therapy Drug research Psychoanalysis History of psychiatry Argentine medicine |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that mid-20th century Argentine psychoanalysts conducted pioneering research combining psychedelics with psychoanalysis, but resistance from the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association led to the cessation of this work. |
Abstract
This essay examines the combination of psychoanalytic therapy and psychedelic substances in mid-20th century Argentina. Through document analysis, it examines the intersection of psychedelics and psychoanalysis, drawing from historical texts and writings by local psychoanalysts to develop a comprehensive understanding of the distinctive clinical practices and therapeutic approaches in the Argentine context. It details the experimental use of these substances, the clinical practices developed, and the professional and societal challenges encountered. Notably, psychoanalysts Luisa de Álvarez de Toledo, Alberto Tallaferro, and Alberto Fontana conducted pioneering research, exploring the therapeutic potential of these substances and publishing their findings in academic papers and books. According to these psychoanalysts, the use of psychedelic drugs in therapy could enhance transference, catalyze catharsis, and circumvent unconscious defenses, allowing for a vivid exploration of the patient's psyche that necessitated interpretation. Despite the innovative nature of this work, resistance from within the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association led to the eventual cessation of psychedelic research in this country. The essay calls for a reconsideration of the psychoanalytic community's relationship with psychedelics, emphasizing the potential for renewed dialogue and incorporation of these substances in contemporary therapeutic practices. In conclusion, this article sheds light on an overlooked chapter of psychoanalysis in a local setting and serves as a call for future explorations in broader scenarios. The resurgence of interest in psychedelics for mental health treatment presents an opportunity for psychoanalysts to engage with emerging research, enriching both theory and practice.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on LSD and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelics and Psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches as Default | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Flashback: psychiatric experimentation with LSD in historical perspective. | 2005 | Historical analysis | |
| LSD therapy in Dutch psychiatry: changing socio-political settings and medical sets. | 2002 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelics and psychotherapy in Canada: Humphry Osmond and Aldous Huxley. | 2018 | Historical analysis | |
| Psychedelic crossings: American mental health and LSD in the 1970s. | 2019 | Historical analysis |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- “She Told Me So”: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on the Plant Third and the Messages from Ayahuasca Psychoanalytic Inquiry September 22, 2026
- The therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in depression, generalized anxiety, and substance use disorders: modulation of the depressive burden in a longitudinal study. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2026
Cites 7
- The default-mode, ego-functions and free-energy: a neurobiological account of Freudian ideas Brain February 28, 2010
- Integrating psychotherapy and psychopharmacology: psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and other combined treatments Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology June 1, 2020
- Lower-dose psycholytic therapy – A neglected approach Frontiers in Psychiatry December 2, 2022
- The Trials of Psychedelic Therapy: LSD Psychotherapy in America The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease February 26, 2019
- Expanding mindscapes: A global history of psychedelics Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 10, 2024
and 2 more in the library