Use of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in a Psychotherapeutic Setting

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) has been established in experimental psychiatry as a psychotomimetic drug, but its potential as an adjunct to psychotherapy remains underexplored. The first mention of LSD-25 in this context was in 1950 by Busch and Johnson, who reported that the drug profoundly influenced the course of eight cases of psychoneurosis, particularly by enabling patients to remember and relive early traumatic episodes. Abramson has since used LSD-25 alongside analytic treatment, giving small doses periodically when therapy stalls. He noted the drug's pharmacologic safety, maintenance of consciousness and cooperation, and lack of evidence for addiction with repeated use.

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Abstract

In experimental psychiatry the hallucinogenic drugs have a firmly established position; hundreds of articles attest to the growing interest in their psychotomimetic activity. As an adjunct to psychotherapy, however, their potential has been incompletely investigated. The initial mention of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) in this connection appears to be the 1950 publication by Busch and Johnson, 3 where the drug was described as having profoundly influenced the course of progress of eight cases of psychoneurosis. The remembering and reliving of early traumatic episodes were especially noted. Of subsequent researchers, Abramson 1 has investigated the drug most extensively in this country. He uses LSD-25 in conjunction with analytic treatment. Patients are given small doses periodically when they appear to be at a standstill in therapy. He noted that LSD-25 is characterized by pharmacologic safety, maintenance of the patient in a conscious and cooperative state, and repetition without evidence of addiction. Frederking