A controlled study of LSD treatment in alcoholism and neurosis.

Favourable results have been reported from The age range extended from 17 to 54 the use oflysergidein a wide variety of psychiayears with a median of 33 and a mean of trie conditions, but controlled studies (2, 3, 4) 33"I" have not confirmed the existence of a therapeutic effect. In this experiment, alcoholics and neuroTREATMENT . tics who had been referred by Saskatoon The twenty-five members of the Treatment psychiatrists for LSD treatment were allocated group received a total of 79 LSD experiences. at random to Treatment and Control groups Treatments were given in single rooms in a after undergoing a series of psychological tests, general hospital setting where the lysergide [_ The members of the Treatment group were was administered orally, preceded by a five [ offered up to five LSD experiences at intervals milligram tablet of dextroamphetamine to _ of two weeks, whereas those in the Control reduce anxiety during the induction phase. In l: group were informed that tiffs type of therapy order to produce an intense experience without i; would be made available to them after a loss of control, treatment was begun with a twelvd-month waiting period. Accounts of small quantity of lysergide to which supplethe LSD experiences were sent to the referring mentary amounts were added if the effect was psychiatrists, who were expected to continue to judged to be inadequate. Subsequent treatprovide standard treatment to the members of ments were started with larger doses if the drug both groups, had been well tolerated. The dosage of LSD ranged from 5° to 3oo micrograms per treatStmjEc'rs ment, the modal dose being Ioo and the mean