LSD and chromosomes. A controlled experiment
JAMA November 3, 1969 DOI: 10.1001/jama.210.5.849 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractChromosomes from lymphocytes were examined in 32 patients before and after they took LSD as part of controlled research, and in five black-market users who received pure LSD in a research setting. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in chromosomal aberration rates before and after LSD. A follow-up study of eight normal subjects who had taken LSD in earlier experiments also found no evidence of damage. The results consistently support the conclusion that, at this time, there is no definite evidence that pure LSD damages chromosomes of human lymphocytes in vivo as studied from 72-hour cultures.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Controlled trial with before-and-after measures Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 45 |
| Population | Patients in LSD psychotherapy research and black-market LSD users |
| Intervention | Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Medicine Double blind study Statistical analysis Significant difference |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key finding | No significant difference in chromosomal aberration rates before and after LSD, indicating no definite evidence that pure LSD damages chromosomes of human lymphocytes in vivo. |
Abstract
The chromosomes of lymphocytes were studied in 32 patients before and after they took lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as part of double-blind, controlled research of the effects of the drug in psychotherapy and in five black-market LSD users who volunteered to take pure LSD in a research setting. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the before- and after-LSD chromosomal aberration rates. In addition, a post-LSD study of eight normal subjects who had received LSD in previous research experiments was also performed with the same cytogenetic methods. The results of these experiments consistently supported the conclusion that at this time there is no definite evidence that pure LSD damages chromosomes of human lymphocytes in vivo as studied from 72-hour cultures.