Adverse Reactions to Psychedelic Drugs - A Review of the Literature
This literature review (1984) examines the basic pharmacology and potential adverse effects of synthetic psychedelics, primarily LSD. It concludes that while acute adverse reactions occur, there is little evidence for organic brain damage or permanent negative changes in personality among users.
Authors
- Rick Strassman
Published
Abstract
The use of naturally occurring and synthetically derived compounds for their psychedelic effects has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. The basic pharmacology of the major synthetic psychedelic compounds primarily lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD] is described and reference is made to their potentially beneficial psychological effects. Adverse reactions, defined as dysphoric and/or maladaptive/dysfunctional responses to the use of these drugs, sometimes require careful clinical judgment in order to diagnose. These reactions can be effectively classified along a temporal continuum, Acute, short-lived reactions are often fairly benign, whereas chronic, unremitting courses carry a poor prognosis. Delayed, intermittent phenomena flashbacks and LSD-precipitated functional disorders that usually respond treatment appropriate for the non-psychedelic-precipitated illnesses they resemble, round out this temporal means of classification, The question of organic brain damage as well as permanent changes in personality, attitudes, and creativity in patients and normals who have repeatedly ingested psychedelic drugs is controversial, but tends to point to subtle or nonsignificant changes. Future areas for study of the psychedelics’ pharmacological, psychological, and. therapeutic effects are suggested.
Research Summary of 'Adverse Reactions to Psychedelic Drugs - A Review of the Literature'
Introduction
Abraham frames psychedelic use as a long-standing human practice and reviews the pharmacology and reported psychological effects of major synthetic psychedelics, with LSD-25 treated as the prototypical compound. Earlier therapeutic enthusiasm in the 1950s–60s is noted alongside growing public and legislative concern about adverse acute and chronic effects; the paper focuses on adverse reactions—defined as dysphoric and/or maladaptive responses—that sometimes require clinical judgement to diagnose. The review sets out to classify and summarise the literature on adverse reactions to psychedelics, to identify methodological problems in existing reports, and to suggest priorities for future research. Abraham seeks to place adverse events on a temporal continuum (acute, delayed/intermittent, chronic) and to examine evidence about etiologies, incidence, clinical management, and long-term sequelae, emphasising the limitations of the available data.
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Strassman, R. J. (1984). Adverse Reactions to Psychedelic Drugs - A Review of the Literature. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 172(10), 577-595. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-198410000-00001
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