TABLE 1.

Comparison of the two main methods of using hallucinogens in psychotherapy [cf. (4, 39)].

	Psycholytic therapy	Psychedelic therapy
Dosage	Lower doses [e.g., LSD 30-150 mcg, psilocybin 3-15 mg]	High doses (LSD 250-800 mcg, psilocybin 25-40 mg)
Intended effects	Activation of the primary process Dream-like symbolic imaginings, regressions, transference phenomena Spontaneous insights Affective arousal and vividness of conscious experience	Cosmic-mystical “peak experience” Ecstatic experience Self-transcendence Awe Connection to others and to self
Theoretical foundation	Psychoanalytic theory Psychodynamic theories	Foundations in religions and philosophical concepts Transpersonal psychology
Number of sessions	Numerous sessions required (5-25)	1-2 session(s)
Therapeutic procedure	Psychodynamic preparation Analytical discussion of experiential material in individual and group sessions	Strongly suggestive preparation Use of specific environmental conditions and structuring music Reduction in focus on language, narrative creation and meaning making
Ego-functions	Ego functions softened Some ego functions altered while others left intact Ego boundaries softened, permeable but essentially retained Capacity for self-reflection (“reflecting ego remnant”) is maintained	Narrative identity is removed from awareness Ego-dissolution (loss of defenses) leads to experience of mystical experience, flow, cosmic consciousness, etc. Self-reflective ego is dissolved, though memory maintained
Therapeutic processing	Facilitation of familiar psychotherapeutic processes: deeper emotional truth, greater self honesty and acceptance Reality adjustment Stimulation to integrate experiences into everyday life	Narration and affirmation of peak experience Reality adjustments will follow naturally from peak experience Psychotherapeutic processing not relevant to experience
Therapeutic goal	Healing through restructuring of the personality in a maturation process Release of infantile parental bonds Change of attachment style	Direct experience of awe, sacredness, the numinous, etc. Self-transformation through change in self-experience and perspective “Spiritual awakening”
Indications	Historical: Classical indications of psychotherapy: neuroses, psychosomatic cases, personality disorders, sexual deviations Contemporary: Same as above	Historical: Alcoholism, terminal patients, drug addiction Contemporary: Cancer related Existential Distress and Demoralization Syndrome and End of life care for individuals in palliative treatments, depression, alcoholism, cigarette addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder