Chronic Users of LSD: The "Acidheads"
K. H. Blacker, Reese T. Jones, George C. Stone, Dolf Pfefferbaum
American Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 1968 DOI: 10.1176/ajp.125.3.341 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21 |
| Population | Chronic users of LSD |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Perception Cognition Magical thinking Clinical psychology Alternative medicine |
| Citations | 85 |
| Key findings | Chronic LSD users shared magical-mystical beliefs, nonaggressive attitudes, and unique sensory sensitivity, possibly learned from frequent LSD experiences. |
Abstract
Twenty-one paid volunteers who were chronic users of LSD were interviewed and participated in a series of cognitive and perceptual tests and EEG studies. Among other observations derived from both interviews and testing, the authors noted that the group shared a set of magical-mystical beliefs and profound nonaggressive attitudes, as well as a unique sensitivity to certain types of sensory stimulation. The authors suggest that the beliefs and attitudes of the group may have arisen as learned consequences of frequent, intense LSD experiences in susceptible individuals.
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 14
- Psychiatry & the psychedelic drugs. Past, present & future. Neuropharmacology December 25, 2017
- Long-term use of psychedelic drugs is associated with differences in brain structure and personality in humans European Neuropsychopharmacology January 16, 2015
- Visual Phenomenology of the LSD Flashback Archives of General Psychiatry August 1, 1983
- Serotonergic psychedelics and personality: A systematic review of contemporary research Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews February 13, 2018
- d-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) as a Model of Psychosis: Mechanism of Action and Pharmacology International Journal of Molecular Sciences November 23, 2016
and 9 more in the library
Cites 7
- On the Use and Abuse of LSD Archives of General Psychiatry March 1, 1968
- Long Lasting Effects of LSD on Normals Archives of General Psychiatry November 1, 1967
- Untoward Reactions to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) Resulting in Hospitalization New England Journal of Medicine December 2, 1965
- Prolonged Adverse Reactions to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Archives of General Psychiatry May 1, 1963
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD-25) and Ego Functions Archives of General Psychiatry May 1, 1963
and 2 more in the library