Lysergic acid diethylamide: a drug of ‘use’?
This review (2016) provides a chronologic history of LSD and examines its safety profile, the potential for abuse, its therapeutic potential to treat alcoholism or terminally ill patients. It also summarizes insights about its receptor pharmacology, mechanism of action, and (adverse) effects, while highlighting some of its potential clinical applications such as an antianxiety agent, a creativity enhancer, a suggestibility enhancer, or a performance enhancer.
Authors
- Das, S.
- Barnwal, P.
- Ramasamy, A.
Published
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), described as a classical hallucinogen, began its journey from the middle of the last century following an accidental discovery. Since then, it was used as a popular and notorious substance of abuse in various parts of the world. Its beneficial role as an adjunct to psychotherapy was much unknown, until some ‘benevolent’ experiments were carried out over time to explore some of its potential uses. But, many of its effects were unclear and seemed to be a psychedelic enigma. In this review article, we have described the receptor pharmacology, mechanism of action, effects and adverse effects of LSD on the normal body system. We have also highlighted its addictive potentials and the chances of developing tolerance. We have assimilated some of the interesting therapeutic uses of this drug, such as an antianxiety agent, a creativity enhancer, a suggestibility enhancer, and a performance enhancer. We have also described LSD to be successfully used in drug and alcohol dependence, and as a part of psychedelic peak therapy in terminally ill patients. The relevant chronological history and literature in the light of present knowledge and scenarios have been discussed. Based on available evidence, LSD could be tried therapeutically in certain specific conditions under controlled settings. But as we mention, due to all the safety concerns, the use of this nonaddictive ‘entheogen’ in actual practice warrants a lot of expertise, caution, cooperation and ethical considerations.
Research Summary of 'Lysergic acid diethylamide: a drug of ‘use’?'
Introduction
Das and colleagues situate lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as a classical hallucinogen with a complex history: synthesized in the late 1930s, it became both a focus of mid-20th century clinical experimentation and a widely used recreational drug. Earlier work explored LSD's psychotomimetic properties and its potential as an adjunct to psychotherapy, but many of those studies predate current methodological standards. The authors note renewed recent interest in psychedelic research and frame LSD as a drug whose therapeutic potential and safety profile remain incompletely characterised. This review article aims to describe LSD's receptor pharmacology and presumed mechanisms of action, to summarise its acute and long-term effects on the body and mind, and to collate historical and contemporary evidence for therapeutic applications. The paper addresses areas including addiction treatment, anxiety in terminal illness, creativity and suggestibility enhancement, and safety issues, and concludes by considering whether LSD might be used therapeutically in specific, controlled settings.
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Study Details
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- APA Citation
Das, S., Barnwal, P., Ramasamy, A., Sen, S., & Mondal, S. (2016). Lysergic acid diethylamide: a drug of ‘use’?. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 6(3), 214-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125316640440
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