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A history of the European Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy (EPT) 1964–1974

Torsten Passie

Drug Science, Policy and Law 2024 DOI: 10.1177/20503245231221154 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Historical analysis Peer reviewed
Topics Psilocybin
Keywords Psychotherapist The renaissance
Citations 4
Key points Argues that the history and activities of the European Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy (EPT) have been neglected and can be reconstructed from archival resources to inform future standards for psychedelic therapy and training.

Abstract

The emergence of a so-called psychedelic renaissance has been proposed to characterize the revival of research into (psycho-)therapies using psychedelic drugs. In Europe, the most widespread approach employed in the 1960s and 1970s that involved the use of drugs like LSD and psilocybin as an adjunct to psychotherapy was named according to its main theoretical framework, that is, psychoanalysis as psycholytic therapy (psycholysis). Psycholytic therapy involves the use of serial low-dose sessions embedded in conventional long-term psychotherapy. However, this approach seems to be neglected today in favor of the psychedelic peak therapy paradigm with the use of just one or two high dose sessions to induce symptom reduction and personality transformation with a minimum time of psychotherapy. A review of the history and activities of the European Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy (EPT) shows that it was a significant institution at the time. The EPT was founded as a professional society in 1965 aiming to coordinate European efforts of LSD therapists and enable professional exchange to further the development of psycholytic therapy. It also aimed to disseminate psycholytic therapy as an innovative treatment, and encourage international cooperation to develop standards of therapy and training. Up to now, there is virtually nothing available in the literature about the EPT and its activities. The author reconstructs the history and activities of the EPT based on unique archival resources to learn from past experiences and to help inspire the development of standards for treatment and training in the future.

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REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics 2019 Theoretical or philosophical paper
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Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. 2024 Theoretical or philosophical paper
What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us about the Visual Cortex 2002 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame 2020 Theoretical or philosophical paper

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