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LSD in the Treatment of Alcoholics*

Albert A. Kurland, Charles Savage, Walter N. Pahnke, Stanislav Grof, Jennelie Olsson

Pharmacopsychiatry March 1, 1971 DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1094301 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Double-blind, controlled study Peer reviewed
Sample size 135
Population Chronic alcoholics
Intervention LSD-assisted psychotherapy
Dose 450 micrograms for the experimental group and 50 micrograms for the control group
Duration Single session, with follow-up at 6, 12, and 18 months
Topics LSD
Keywords Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Personality Group psychotherapy
Citations 110
Key points High-dose LSD as an adjunct to psychotherapy initially improved drinking behavior and global adjustment at 6 months compared to low-dose, but this advantage was not sustained at 12 to 18 months of follow-up.

Abstract

The use of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism has led to many claims concerning the drug's efficacy. Efforts to verify these reports in controlled studies have been difficult because of the unique effects of LSD. Despite this formidable methodological obstacle a number of investigations have been carried out. A critique of these is presented followed by our own research experience in a double-blind, controlled study with 135 chronic alcoholics. In our investigation LSD was employed only as an adjunct to psychotherapy, and most patients received only one session with LSD. Our method is called psychedelic peak therapy because during the actual administration of LSD the aim is to achieve a positively profound and insightful experience, hopefully yielding beneficial personality and attitudinal changes. Dosage was 450 micrograms for the experimental group and 50 micrograms or the control group. Both groups were treated within a hospital setting and were followed at 6, 12, and 18 months to assess post-hospital adjustment. The high dose group showed a statistically significant advantage over the low dose group on drinking behavior and global adjustment at the end of 6 months, but this initial gain was attenuated so that by the end of 12 to 18 months of follow-up there were no significant differences between the groups, although the overall level of improvement was considerably better for both groups than the usual improvement for other alcoholics in the same setting without any form of LSD-assisted psychotherapy. These results have indicated that further research is needed in order to discover how to sustain and maximize the initial therapeutic benefits we have observed.

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

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LSD Mystical experience Psychedelic-assisted therapy