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Observations on the Action of Sernyl — A New Psychotropic Drug

T. A. Ban, J. J. Lohrenz, H. E. Lehmann

Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal June 1, 1961 DOI: 10.1177/070674376100600307 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational study Peer reviewed
Sample size 55
Population Patients randomly selected from a mental hospital population
Intervention Sernyl
Dose 0.07 mg/kg
Topics Mescaline
Keywords Action physics Psychopathology Population Feeling Value mathematics Hallucinogen
Citations 63
Key findings Sernyl at 0.07 mg/kg intravenously activated patients' specific psychopathology more than LSD-25 or mescaline sulfate, but did not appear to be a true psychotomimetic or schizophrenomimetic drug.

Abstract

Sernyl was administered to 55 patients, chosen at random from the population of a mental hospital. Its disinhibiting potential appears to be related to the dose. Sernyl in doses of 0.07 mgms/kg administered in 7 minutes by the intravenous route activated the patients specific psychopathology to a greater degree than known psychotomimetics (LSD 25 and Mescaline Sulfate). Physiological and neurological observations, psychological tests and behavioural observations were made and correlated with the collection of subjective data. The unpleasant and extremely frightening nature of the experience, the preoccupation with death and body image disturbances were the most characteristic features observed. The history of the feeling of impending death as a symptom (“meditatio mortis”) has been reviewed and it is suggested that the lower brain stem may be considered as a possible site of action. Judging from our findings, Sernyl would not appear to be a psychotomimetic or schizophrenomimetic drug in the true sense, although certain aspects of the response picture obtained in psychiatric patients resemble the primary symptoms of schizophrenia. The drug seems to possess no particular therapeutic value, at least not at the present state of our knowledge. We are indebted to Drs. H. Ast, L. Douyon, F. Kristof, for their valuable assistance in these observations. We are indebted to Dr. C. Sterlin for assistance in these observations and particularly for preparing a resumé in the French language. We wish to acknowledge our appreciation to Parke, Davis and Company for supplying Sernyl and to Sandoz and Company for supplying LSD 25, for the purpose of this experiment.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on mescaline, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults 2015 Observational cohort n = 135,095
Long-lasting subjective effects of LSD in normal subjects Healthy participants 2017 Observational cohort n = 16
Psychological and cognitive effects of long-term peyote use among Native Americans. Navajo Native Americans aged 18-45 2005 Observational cohort n = 176
Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research. Normal men who were volunteers 1992 Observational cohort n = 12
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (STP): A New Hallucinogenic Drug Normal control volunteers 1967 Observational study

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