Trial PaperDepressive DisordersAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Chronic PainPalliative & End-of-Life DistressSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Anxiety DisordersLSD

Psychedelic drug assisted psychotherapy in patients with terminal cancer

This early study (1972) describes the use of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for patients with terminal cancer. Results suggest significant improvements on various clinical assessments.

Authors

  • Goodman, L. E.
  • Grof, S.
  • Kurland, A. A.

Published

Journal of Death and Dying
individual Study

Abstract

Describes the use of psychedelic drug therapy to alleviate the emotional and physical suffering of 50 23-81 yr old terminal cancer patients. In 43 patients, 200-500 mcg of LSD was orally administered as an adjunct to brief intensive psychotherapy. In 7 patients, 60-105 mg of dipropyltryptamine [DPT] was administered. Results were assessed using a clinical rating scale reflecting (a) the degree of depression and psychological isolation; (b) difficulty in management; and (c) acceptance or fear of death and pain. Pre- and posttreatment ratings indicate significant improvement on most of the clinical assessments and a trend toward a reduction in narcotic medication. Brief case histories are presented.

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Research Summary of 'Psychedelic drug assisted psychotherapy in patients with terminal cancer'

Introduction

Earlier clinical work with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the 1950s and early 1960s led Stanislav and colleagues to re-examine its use not as a chemotherapeutic agent but as an adjunct to psychotherapy. Prior studies had reported promising outcomes in alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders when LSD was embedded in psychotherapeutic frameworks, and limited reports from other investigators (notably Kast and a single case by Cohen) suggested LSD might lessen depression and apprehension in some terminal cancer patients without causing adverse medical reactions. These observations, plus the authors' own clinical experience with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, motivated a programme to explore the application of psychedelic drugs to the psychological care of patients with terminal malignancy. This paper sets out to describe the investigators' clinical programme treating cancer patients with LSD and with dipropyltryptamine (DPT) as an alternative, to outline the therapeutic procedures and assessment methods employed, and to present the observed psychological and analgesic effects. The study emphasises LSD and DPT administered within a preparatory-and-integration psychotherapeutic framework rather than as stand-alone pharmacological analgesia, and it highlights clinical impressions, observer-rated outcome data, and illustrative case material. The extracted text does not clearly report the total sample size in this section.

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Study Details

Related Clinical Trial

Completed

Spring Grove / Maryland Psychiatric Research Center LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Terminal Cancer (Pahnke, Grof, Richards, Kurland ~1965–1972)

Uncontrolled open pilot clinical series of LSD- and DPT-assisted psychotherapy for terminal cancer patients conducted at Spring Grove State Hospital and the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Baltimore MD (~1965–1972; key investigators: Walter Pahnke, Stanislav Grof, William Richards, Albert Kurland). Total n~60 terminal cancer patients by July 1972 (P1 reports n=31 in earlier series; P2/P5 overlap with later cohort). Participants: referred for significant pain, depression, tension, anxiety or psychological isolation; estimated life expectancy ≥3 months. Sessions: single supervised psychedelic session (LSD 200–500 mcg IM, modal 300 mcg; or DPT 60–105 mg parenterally for shorter effect), with male-female therapist dyad, eyeshades, headphones, classical music, family involvement at termination. Preparatory psychotherapy ~6–12 h; integration psychotherapy beginning day after session. Outcome: Pahnke-Richards 7-domain observer rating (depression, isolation, fear of death, pain, etc. −6 to +6) by therapists, nurses, physicians, family; narcotic scale for analgesic use. Repeated sessions permitted if peak experience not achieved or symptoms recurred. No control arm; no registration (pre-registration era). Multiple publications report overlapping cohorts: Pahnke WN (1972, book chapter); Grof S et al. (Int Pharmacopsychiatry 1973, PMID 4140164); Kurland AA (J Psychoactive Drugs 1985, PMID 2418186).

Started
Type
interventional
Randomized
No
Registry ID
SPRING-GROVE-1965-1972-LSD-DPT-TERMINAL-CANCER-PROGRAM

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