LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy

Since the early 1970s, MAPS has completed the first double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of LSD in human therapy.

LSD (ergoyl diethylamine) is a semi-synthetic compound first developed by Dr. Albert Hoffmann at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Basel, Switzerland in 1938. After Dr. Hoffman first discovered the effect in 1943, the LSD was quickly recognized about its possible therapeutic effects. LSD also plays an important role in the discovery of the serotonin neurotransmitter system.

Our Phase 2 trial completed with 12 subjects found that there was a positive trend in decreasing anxiety after two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions. These results also demonstrate that LSD adjuvant psychotherapy can be safely performed in these subjects and demonstrate that further studies are reasonable

LSD is known for its ability to promote spiritual or mysterious experiences and promote interconnectivity. MAPS is interested in this substance as MAPS can help people with various diseases mainly in the treatment of life-threatening disease anxiety, as well as mental use, creativity and personal growth I will.

There is considerable human experience using LSD in the context of psychotherapy. Between the 1950s and the early 1970s psychiatrists, therapists, and researchers used adult LSD to treat alcohol dependence and anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer. Completion and future research of MAPS are consistent with modern pharmaceutical development standards and will contribute to the development of additional research leading to the risks and benefits of LSD-assisted psychotherapy.

For scientific literature on the risks and benefits of LSD and other LSDs, please search the comprehensive psychedelic bibliography

The pioneering work of the 1960s investigated the possibilities of LSD and other psychedelic drugs that induce peak experiences. For example, in psychotherapy research using LSD, under the influence of LSD, it was found that strong aesthetic sense, deep reality, and transcendental sensation are involved in some people's experiences (Klavetter & Mogar, 1967). In addition, those experienced believe that they have permanent benefits, including a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships, that they understand more clearly about the value of life It is. On the other hand, some participants who participated in this study did not reach the peak of experience and reported that the experience was disappointing or confusing, or was temporarily angry. Therefore, some people are more likely to benefit from psychedelic drugs.

Psychotherapy using LSD includes combinations of mechanisms that function in traditional psychotherapy such as promotion of emotional acquisition, reduction of traumatic memory, ventilation and catharsis, and promotion of emotional and intellectual insight (Grof, 1980; Leuner, 1981). The most important impact of LSD in a psychotherapeutic environment can be explained as follows. All of these aspects experienced by LSD may contribute to the therapeutic effect, especially in psychedelic ways. Previous studies have shown that therapy is superior to those who have experienced psychedelic peaks, but significantly better treatment effects are seen for those who do not have these physique (Pahnke et al ., 1970; Richards et al., 1977).

LSD-assisted psychotherapy and anxiety related to life-threatening diseases: qualitative study of acute and persistent subjective influences

Psychedelic therapy refers to a therapy that mainly involves the use of psychedelic drugs, especially serotonin hallucinogenic agents such as LSD, psicrosbin, DMT, MDMA, mescaline and 2C-B, for adjuvant psychotherapy. Instead of synonyms such as "linder", "entheogen", "pseudo-psychiatric", and other functionally organized names, use these terms psychedelic ("thinking ability") It is used as part of treatment. People believe that these medicines can promote beneficial exploration of the mind. In contrast to traditional psychiatric treatments that need to be taken on a daily basis or by a patient, in psychedelic therapy, patients maintain long-term psychotherapy during acute activity of the drug and stay at the facility overnight . In medication interview, the therapist supports with no instruction and the patient to explore its inherent experience.