ECT in LSD Psychosis: A Report of Three Cases
American Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 1971 DOI: 10.1176/ajp.128.3.351 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Patients with toxic psychosis associated with LSD ingestion |
| Duration | Short series |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Psychosis Ingestion Psychotherapist Electroconvulsive therapy studies |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key findings | Unilateral ECT led to dramatic recovery in three patients with persistent LSD-induced psychosis after conservative treatments failed. |
Abstract
Three patients with toxic psychosis associated with LSD ingestion responded dramatically to a short series of unilateral ECTs after more conservative measures had been unsuccessful. The conservative measures consisted of medication, psychotherapy, and therapeutic milieu. The author recommends ECT for the "bad trip" from LSD that does not remit rapidly.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lasting Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of (??)Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (???Ecstasy???) in Recreational Users Persons who ingested large doses of MDMA | 1991 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Further Studies in the Therapeutic Value of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Mental Illness Patients with mental illness | 1957 | Case series | |
| Coma, Hyperthermia, and Bleeding Associated with Massive LSD Overdose a Report of Eight Cases People who self-administered large amounts of pure LSD powder intranasally | 1975 | Case series | n = 8 |
| Using a MDMA- and LSD-Group Therapy Model in Clinical Practice in Switzerland and Highlighting the Treatment of Trauma-Related Disorders Patients with chronic complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD), dissociative,... | 2022 | Case series | |
| Persistent Palinopsia Following Ingestion of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) Patients who developed persistent palinopsia after LSD ingestion | 1996 | Case series | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- The psychopharmacology of hallucinogens. Neuropsychopharmacology April 1, 1996
- Prolonged adverse effects from repeated psilocybin use in an underground psychedelic therapy training program: a case report BMC Psychiatry February 28, 2025
- Catatonia LSD Induced? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 1995
- Treatment approaches and efficacy in psychedelic-induced psychosis: A systematic review. Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 26, 2025
- Chronic substance-induced psychotic disorders: state of the literature. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 1996
and 1 more in the library
Cites 5
- On the Use and Abuse of LSD Archives of General Psychiatry March 1, 1968
- Flashbacks: Recurrent Intrusive Images After the Use of LSD American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 1969
- Prolonged Adverse Reactions to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Archives of General Psychiatry May 1, 1963
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide New England Journal of Medicine February 22, 1968
- The Dangers of LSD JAMA August 8, 1966