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Residential Psychedelic (LSD) Therapy for the Narcotic Addict

Charles Savage

Archives of General Psychiatry June 1, 1973 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1973.01750360040005 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 78
Population Volunteer addict inmates from Maryland correctional institutions with chronic heroin abuse
Intervention Residential treatment
Dose one high-dose LSD administration
Duration Six-week intervention, 12-month follow-up
Topics LSD Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Keywords Abstinence Sobriety Heroin
Citations 150
Key findings Verified abstinence throughout the first posttreatment year was significantly in favor of the treatment group that received brief residential psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy.

Abstract

A controlled investigation was made of the rehabilitative efficacy of brief residential psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy with chronic heroin abusers. Seventy-eight volunteer addict inmates from Maryland correctional institutions were randomly assigned to the following: a treatment condition–psychedlic therapy (incorporating one high-dose LSD administration) during a six weeks residence in a halfway house type of facility; or a control condition–an outpatient clinic program including daily urine monitoring and weekly group psychotherapy. All subjects (37 completers in each group) were treated identically save for the initial six-week period of residential treatment. Major outcome criteria were based on evaluative assessments (including daily urine surveillance) of the treatment and control groups covering the 12 months following discharge to the community. Comparative verified abstinence data throughout the first posttreatment year were significantly in favor of the treatment group.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on LSD, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases Patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases 2014 Randomized controlled trial n = 12
Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Experienced hallucinogen users 1994 Double-blind, saline placebo-controlled, randomized study n = 12
Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects Healthy subjects (8 women, 8 men) 2014 Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study n = 16
Changes in global and thalamic brain connectivity in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness are attributable to the 5-HT2A receptor Healthy human participants 2018 Double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced, cross-over study n = 24
LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change. Healthy adults 2016 Balanced-order, placebo-controlled study n = 19

Citations in the library

Cited by 113

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LSD Psychedelic-assisted therapy Addiction