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LSD-25 as an Adjunct to Long-Term Psychotherapy

Robert Pos

Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal August 1, 1966 DOI: 10.1177/070674376601100410 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case series Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 24
Population Patients with disabling and long-standing psychiatric difficulties
Intervention LSD-25
Duration September 1962 to May 1965
Topics LSD
Citations 2
Key findings LSD-25 helped only 5 of 24 patients overcome therapeutic blocks, with no predictable relationship between the psychedelic experience and therapeutic benefit.

Abstract

The author describes his experience with LSD-25 as an adjunct to long-term psychotherapy in 24 patients between September, 1962 and May, 1965, involving a total of 56 LSD-25 sessions for a total duration of 119 1/4 hours. Where therapy blocks developed which could not be overcome, narcoanalysis with or without methylphenidate † was used and if this was not successful LSD-25 was considered. The 24 experimental subjects were almost all suffering from disabling and long-standing psychiatric difficulties. In five out of 24 patients LSD-25 did seem to help the patient to overcome therapeutic blocks successfully; five patients showed only temporary movement and relapsed; 12 patients showed no therapeutic movement whatsoever; in two patients the follow-up was insufficient. There was no stable correlation between the extent of the psychedelic experience and the amount of therapeutic benefit. The events of the LSD-25 sessions could not be predicted on the basis of pre-LSD-25 experience with the patient, nor could the therapeutic outcome of the LSD-25 sessions be predicted on the basis of the session itself, or even on the basis of the first days or weeks following the session. LSD-25 appeared as a sometimes helpful though usually unpredictable treatment variable within the over-all treatment program. When introduced as an adjunct late in the treatment procedure it did not seem to have any untoward psychodynamic effects and no undue increase in suicidal tendencies was noted. The therapist's insight into the patient's dynamics was always increased, though this could far from always be translated into therapeutic benefit.

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 3

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