Table 2.
Details of studies: set, setting and main findings.
| Clinical Trial; (Country) | Treatment program | Pre-LSD session | LSD session | Setting | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart et al. (68); (Canada) | Therapeutic community (group and individual therapy) | Brief orientation | 3h interview and no full-time observation | Waist belt to bed No music/visual stimuli |
Improvement in total abstinence/longest period of abstinence for all groups No significant differences between groups |
| Hollister et al. (69); (USA) | Short therapy on alcohol withdrawal (7 days) | Brief orientation | Brief supportive reassurance (focus on the self) | Music stimuli Visual stimuli (comfortable furniture) |
Significant improvement for LSD group (2 months) in Drinking Behavior Scale scores No significant differences at 6 months |
| Ludwig et al. (70); (USA) | Intensive milieu therapy (30 days) Group therapy | Brief orientation | 3h of therapy (psychedelic therapy (44) hypnodelic therapy (44), or silent observation (44)) | Not described | Significant improvement in pre-post treatment evaluation for all groups Significant improvement in BRS for all groups in every period No significant differences between groups |
| Johnson (71); (Canada) | Milieu therapy (24h hospitalization) | Brief orientation | 4h of therapy (active interviewing to focus particularly on current problems) |
Waist belt to bed No music/visual stimuli |
Significant improvement across all groups on most drinking indices No significant differences between groups |
| Bowen et al. (72); (USA) | Group therapy (60 days) | Group lectures on possible drug effects | Supportive reassurance (focused particularly on non- verbal introspection) | Music stimuli Visual stimuli (flowers, pictures, “tasteful furniture”, mirror) |
No significant differences between groups at 1 year after LSD session. |
| Denson and Sydiaha (73); (Canada) | Not described (24 h) | Not reported | Not described | Not described (general hospital setting) | Positive results in general health (BFQNSP) for LSD group No other significant differences |
| Pahnke et al. (62); (Canada) | Intensive individual therapy (49 days) | Extensive individual preparation for treatment | Therapy for eliciting a “peak or transcendental experience” | Music stimuli Visual stimuli (flowers, pictures, “comfortable living room”) |
Significant improvement in Global Adjustment and Drinking Behavior for LSD group Significant relationship between better Global Adjustment and peak-experiences |
| Tomsovic and Edwards (59); (Canada) | Group therapy (90 days) | Lectures and reviews of treatment intentions | Supportive reassurance (not focused on extensive talking) | Music stimuli Visual stimuli (flowers, colorful drapes, pictures, hand mirror, scenic view) |
Improvement in abstinence for LSD group (significant for control sub-group 1) No differences between lysergide experience measures and benefit |
| Savage and McCabe (74); (USA) | Brief residential psychedelic psychotherapy (4-6 weeks) in outpatient clinic program | Preparatory psychotherapy (24 h) focused on positive patient-therapist relationship |
Psychedelic therapy | Not described | Significant improvement in total abstinence for LSD group Not significant differences in global adjustment scale |
| Savage et al. (65); (USA) | Brief hospitalization, psychedelic psychotherapy (4-8 weeks) |
Preparation based on the psychedelic model of psychotherapy (3-5 weeks) |
Psychedelic therapy | Not described | Significant improvement in majority of pre-post-treatment measures for LSD group Not significant differences between groups at 6 months |
| Gasser et al. (75); (Switzerland) | Continuous psychotherapeutic process lasting several months (outpatient program) | Two preparatory psychotherapy sessions “Set”, based on the psychedelic model of psychotherapy |
Psychedelic therapy | Music stimuli Visual stimuli not described “Safe, quiet and pleasant room” |
Significant improvement in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores for LSD group at 2 months Positive trends in reductions in trait anxiety (STAI) at 2 months STAI reductions sustained for 12 months |