LSD: Therapeutic Effects of the Psychedelic Experience
Charles Savage, Ethel Savage, James Fadiman, Willis W. Harman
Psychological Reports February 1, 1964 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1964.14.1.111 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 113 |
| Population | Patients receiving psychedelic therapy |
| Interventions | LSD mescaline |
| Duration | Follow-ups from 6 months to 2 years |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Psychedelic treatment Entheogenic therapy Psychological therapy Mental wellness Clinical benefits Patient improvement Therapeutic potential Treatment efficacy Long-term benefits Sustained recovery Consciousness expansion Ultimate reality perception Existential awareness Transcendent experience |
| Citations | 25 |
| Key findings | The total improvement rate was above 80%, with a high relation between claimed benefit and reported greater awareness of ultimate reality. |
Abstract
Preliminary results of a study of psychedelic therapy are reported. Patients receive LSD and mescaline in a supportive setting following intensive preparation. Subjective questionnaire data from 113 patients reveal a high frequency of claimed benefit, low frequency of negative reaction, and a high relation between claimed benefit and reported “greater awareness of ultimate reality” through the LSD experience. Clinical data on 74 cases including blind ratings of MMPI profiles substantiate the claimed improvement rate. Cases in each of five improvement categories are summarized and before, 2-mo.-after, and 6-mo.-after MMPI data are included. Total improvement rate is above 80%. Follow-ups range from 6 mo. to 2 yr.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increased Global Functional Connectivity Correlates with LSD-Induced Ego Dissolution. Human participants | 2016 | Observational cohort | |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
| Whole-Brain Multimodal Neuroimaging Model Using Serotonin Receptor Maps Explains Non-linear Functional Effects of LSD. Healthy human participants | 2018 | Observational study with computational modeling |
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? Journal of Psychopharmacology February 9, 2015
- Developing Guidelines and Competencies for the Training of Psychedelic Therapists Journal of Humanistic Psychology June 29, 2017
- d-Lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and other classic hallucinogens: Mechanism of action and potential therapeutic applications in mood disorders. Progress in Brain Research 2018
- On the Relationship between Classic Psychedelics and Suicidality: A Systematic Review ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 11, 2021
- Lysergic acid diethylamide: a drug of ‘use’? Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology March 23, 2016
and 13 more in the library