Progression of Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide [LSD]
Archives of Neurology And Psychiatry July 1, 1956 DOI: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1956.02330250052007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Pharmacology |
| Citations | 29 |
| Key findings | LSD-25 consistently causes physical symptoms but produces variable mental effects, including increased activity, emotional expression, psychopathology, and reliving of repressed experiences. |
Abstract
Introduction Since the Swiss chemist Hoffman, on April 16, 1943, accidentally discovered the mental effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), a great many experiments with the drug have been reported in various journals. Observations show most agreement in the area of physical subjective symptoms and unreality and least agreement in changes of mood and behavior. Tremor, nausea, dilation of pupils, perspiration, and changes in blood pressure have been consistently found. The observed mental effects have been more at variance. Busch and Johnson,1interested in LSD-25 as a possible therapeutic agent, have found it to cause increased activity, exhibition of emotion, and expression of psychopathology, with only short periods of confusion and occasional visual hallucinations. Similarly, Sandison, Spencer, and Whitelaw2emphasize reliving of repressed personal experiences resulting from nonselective disturbance of the unconscious. Savage,3in a clinical psychological study, has found the mood to be one of aggrandizement,