Clinical Studies of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

This early clinical study (1954) investigated the dose-range effects of LSD (10-600μg) administered to patients and clinical staff (n=23) across 54 different research sessions and found that its effects entail highly potent perceptual alterations that are sensitive to the environment and variable across different individuals. They also note the emergence of phenomena such as enhanced sexual arousal and ego-dissolution and highlight its utility at illuminating basic personality structures but remain inconclusive as to whether it has therapeutic benefit in response to continued administration.

Abstract 

“This paper deals with the effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (L.S.D.) on a group of normal volunteers and psychiatric patients. The publication of these observations was undertaken for the follow-ing reasons:— (a) the wide range of dosage employed, viz., 10-600 micro-grammes (y) (b) the occurrence of phenomena either not previously reported in the literature or else not emphasised (c) continuous administration over days of the substance in some instances (d) modification of the clinical state of a more lasting character in certain cases (e) the illumination of basic personality structure in a limited number of cases. In the course of this study L.S.D. was given to 23 subjects (4 normal volunteers, 3 men, 1 woman, all members of the staff of the department, and 19 patients) involving a total of 58 administrations.”

Authors: E. W. Anderson & K. Rawnsley