Psychedelic Drugs

Early LSD treatment in Denmark from 1960 to 1974

“…Since the late 1960s, it has been well-known that LSD can provoke long-lasting psychotic conditions [3,35] . This was possibly responsible for the declining interest in using LSD to induce model psychoses [36] .…”

“…Psychedelic treatment: psychotic development Since the late 1960s, it has been well-known that LSD can provoke long-lasting psychotic conditions. [3,35] This was possibly responsible for the declining interest in using LSD to induce model psychoses. [36] With psilocybin, a similar characteristic has been established over the years.…”

“…In an editorial, David Nutt wrote, “It's time to take psychedelic treatments in psychiatry…seriously, as we did in the 1950s and 1960s.” [1, p. 1163] The early experiences, however, also included warnings in other journal editorials, emphasizing the increased risk of psychosis and suicide with psychedelic treatment. [ 2 , 3 ] Furthermore, concerns about the clinical use of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin were advanced in a follow-up study of 151 Danish patients, approximately 25 years after they received treatment in the 1960s. [ 4 , 5 ] The original paper on LSD therapy in Denmark is also worth mentioning.…”

Neurotoxicity and LSD treatment: a follow-up study of 151 patients in Denmark

“…Generally the results of the treatment were considered to be promising (Leuner and Holfield, 1962; Sandison and Whitelaw, 1957). However, early warnings (Frosch, Robbins and Stern, 1962; Grinker, 1963; Rinkel, 1966) and a wave of illegal use resulted in restrictions for its medical use and, soon after, withdrawal from the market (Larsen, 2013: 229; Ungerleider, 1968). Despite these facts, LSD remained an interesting tool in psychotherapeutic circles, as demonstrated in many papers read and discussed at the Second International Conference on the Use of LSD in Psychotherapy and Alcoholism in New York, May 1965.…”

“…In Scandinavian countries, the centres of Modum Bad in Norway and Frederiksberg Hospital in Denmark became the leading centres of LSD research. Despite international warnings (Grinker, 1963; Rinkel, 1966) and the observation of serious side-effects, such as homicide, suicides and suicide attempts, especially in Danish reports (Geert-Jørgensen, Hertz, Knudsen and Kristensen, 1964), the attitude towards LSD treatment in the two centres remained positive or even enthusiastic (Geert-Jørgensen, 1968; Johnsen, 1967). Additionally, the development of persistent hallucinations, possibly of toxic origin, following repeated administration, as reported by Rosenthal (1964), seemed to have gone unnoticed at the two Scandinavian centres.…”