A Review of LSD Treatment in Alcoholism
International Pharmacopsychiatry 1971 DOI: 10.1159/000468273 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,105 |
| Population | Alcoholics |
| Intervention | LSD |
| Dose | single doses 50-800 μg; multiple doses per single dose 25-800 μg; total maximum dose 100-6,400 μg |
| Duration | Follow-up ranged from none to 65 months |
| Topics | LSD |
| Citations | 47 |
| Key findings | The overall effectiveness of LSD in treating alcoholics remains disappointing. |
Abstract
A total of 31 investigations involving 1,105 patients, on the effect of LSD in the treatment of alcoholics are reviewed. There were 13 single large-dose studies without controls, 5 such studies with controls, 4 studies of multiple low-dose LSD without controls, 3 multiple low-dose studies with controls, and 6 miscellaneous investigations that did not fit any of these categories. Single doses ranged between 50 and 800 μg, while multiple doses ranged (per single dose) from 25 to 800 μg, with a total maximum dose of 100-6,400 μg (maximum of 6 doses). Follow-up ranged from none to 65 months. The overall effectiveness of this controversial treatment of alcoholics remains disappointing. It was difficult to reach meaningful generalizations from the variety of published investigations with different designs and variant criteria for improvement.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review | 2008 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE | 1984 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 38
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
- Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use Journal of Psychopharmacology May 14, 2019
- Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? Journal of Psychopharmacology February 9, 2015
and 33 more in the library