LSD in the Treatment of Alcoholism
American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 1969 DOI: 10.1176/ajp.126.4.481 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn a single-blind study, 95 alcoholic patients were assigned to one of four treatments: LSD with or without a therapist present, a combination of sodium amobarbital and methamphetamine with a therapist present, or routine clinic care. At a one-year follow-up, 87 percent of patients reported outcomes. All groups showed significant improvement in drinking and employment, but no significant differences were found between groups on any improvement measure. The study thus provides no support for claims that LSD treatment is effective for alcoholism.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Single-blind study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 95 |
| Population | Alcoholic patients |
| Interventions | LSD sodium amobarbital-methamphetamine hydrochloride |
| Duration | One-year follow-up |
| Keywords | Methamphetamine Psychiatry Significant difference Medicine Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 57 |
| Key finding | All treatment groups improved significantly in drinking and employment, but LSD treatment showed no greater efficacy than other treatments or routine care. |
Abstract
Ninety-five alcoholic patients took part in a single-blind study of the efficacy of LSD treatment, which featured four treatment groups: LSD given with and without a therapist present, sodium amobarbital-methamphetamine hydrochloride given with a therapist present, and routine clinic care. At one-year follow-up, with 87 percent of the patients reporting, all groups showed significant improvement in the areas of drinking and employment, but there was no significant difference between groups on any improvement criterion measure. This study thus lends no support to the claims made for the efficacy of LSD treatment in alcoholism.