The Effects of LSD on Chromosomes, Genetic Mutation, Fetal Development and Malignancy

In the last decade, a serious new dimension has been added to the LSD controversy. A number of scientific papers have been published indicating that LSD might cause structural changes in the chromosomes, genetic mutations, disturbances of embryonic development, and malignant degeneration of cells. However a comparable number of publications question the accuracy of these allegations. Some are independent experimental studies which have yielded negative results, others criticize the original papers for serious conceptual and methodological inadequacies. Despite all the experimental work done in this area, and the vast expenditure of time and energy, the results are ambiguous and contradictory. It seems appropriate to include in this book a critical review of all the relevant research because the issue is extraordinarily important to the future of LSD psychotherapy. The following discussion is based almost exclusively on careful study of the existing literature. I have limited firsthand research experience in this area, and genetics is not my primary field of interest and expertise. In the LSD study conducted in the Psychiatric Research Institute in Prague we did not examine the effect of LSD on the chromosomes or its implications for heredity; there were at that time no experimental or clinical observations that would suggest the need for such studies. The first paper that attracted the attention of scientists to this area did not appear until the late 1960's. (22) * After my arrival in the United States, I participated in a major study concentrating on structural changes of the chromosomes in the white blood cells following LSD administration. This was one of the few genetic studies using pure pharmaceutical LSD, a double-blind approach, and comparison of the samples before and after the administration of the drug. (106) The material discussed in this review will be divided into several thematic groups. The first group includes papers describing structural changes of the chromosomes produced by LSD in vitro , ** in these experiments various concentrations of LSD are added to cultures of cells from human, animal, or plant tissues in a test-tube. The second group involves in vivo studies of LSD; in this type of research the effect of LSD is studied after the substance has been ingested by or injected into animals or humans. The papers in the third group describe the