A dangerous method? Psychedelic therapy at Modum Bad, Norway, 1961–76
History of Psychiatry June 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1177/0957154x19894537 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 379 |
| Population | Inpatients at Modum Bad Nervesanatorium |
| Intervention | psychedelic drugs |
| Duration | 1961-76 |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Key points | Argues that insights from a historical psychedelic therapy program at Modum Bad, which initially appeared effective but later revealed long-term harm, can benefit current psychedelic treatment efforts. |
Abstract
After many years of disregard, the use of psychedelic drugs in psychiatric treatment has re-emerged in recent years. The prospect that psychedelics may again be integrated into mainstream psychiatry has aroused interest in long-forgotten research and experience from the previous phase of psychedelic therapy, which lasted from the late 1940s to the 1970s. This article will discuss one large-scale psychedelic therapy programme at Modum Bad Nervesanatorium, a psychiatric clinic which treated 379 inpatients with psychedelic drugs during the years 1961-76. The psychiatrists there initially regarded the psychedelic treatment as efficacious and without serious negative reactions, but reports of long-term harm have since surfaced. This article discusses how insights from Modum Bad might benefit the new generation of psychedelic treatment efforts.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Day trip to hell: A mixed methods study of challenging psychedelic experiences Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 27, 2021
- Psilocybin history, action and reaction: A narrative clinical review Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2023
- Narratives of the mystical among users of psychedelics Acta Sociologica January 11, 2021
- A rapid narrative review of the clinical evolution of psychedelic treatment in clinical trials. npj Mental Health Research July 2, 2024
- Entheogenic Spirituality: Characteristics of Spiritually Motivated Psychedelics Use International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 2023
and 6 more in the library
Cites 32
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