Last night I watched "48 Hours"' segment on LSD, and how it is making a
comeback.  Among the usual LSD stories there was a segment about
the therapeutic uses of the drug in the late 50s, early 60s.
A man was "cured", using a SINGLE lsd dose!!, of his psychological  
troubles (these troubles seemed to pertain to his relationship with
his family and to the pain that he had suffered since childhood.)

Was this case ever verified?  Is it a hoax?  Anyone have more detail
about this case (it seemed to have happened in the 50s/60s)?  In what
cases was the drug used, before its use in therapy was discontinued?

Curious,

V

LSD was used quite a bit in the 50s and 60s in therapy, {*filter*}ion treatment,
etc. One book you might want to check out is _LSD Psychotherapy_ by Stanislav
Grof. Grof used LSD fairly extensively in his practice. Since it has been ill-
egal he has been using holotropic breathing exercises, in which he says he
can achieve some of the same effects of the drug, though on a much less intense
scale.

I've also come across several anecdotal stories about LSD therapy. I can't re-
member any references now, but you might try looking through _Altered States of
Consciousness_ by Charles Tart. I don't know if there is anything in particular
in there on LSD therapy, but the bibliography might help you out.

peace

greg

If genuine, it could well be the power of suggestion, or placebo effect.

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The show related a study in the late 50s in which a therapy
was applied to {*filter*}ics.  Included in the therapy was one
LSD trip.  Over a third of the {*filter*}ics treated permanently
quit drinking.  This appropriately impressed the investigators.
On the other hand, drawing causal connections from such
studies is difficult.  (I don't recall any implications in
the show of similar success for other kinds of "psychological
problems.")

The best thing about the show was that it showed something
that *is* true: that the *worst* effect of LSD use occurs when
a user is run through the criminal "justice" system.  The drug
*laws* destroy many innocent lives.  Their social damage
exceeds the damage caused from the drug itself by several
orders of magnitude.

Russell

I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it <grin>  IMHO, the comeback of LSD is
all based on the new trend to "Buy American"!  Leave those drug dollars at
home where they can help.  :-) :-) :-) :-)

Satin
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When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the
way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious
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