The Use of Psychedelic Drugs in the Treatment of Severely Disturbed Children: A Review

Rhead, John C.

doi:10.1080/02791072.1977.10472034

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Results across studies were ultimately inconclusive due to such variations in methods and a lack of modern controls and experimental rigor (Abuzzahab and Anderson, 1971; McGlothlin and Arnold, 1971; Halpern, 1996; Mangini, 1998). Similarly, some therapists reported that hallucinogens administered under supportive contexts could accelerate psychotherapy for a variety of psychological disorders (e.g., Abramson, 1960, 1963; Crochet et al, 1963; Mogar and Aldrich, 1969; Rhead, 1977). However, these reports were largely based on anecdotal clinical accounts rather than controlled studies.…”

Section: Relevant Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety

2008

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There has recently been a renewal of human research with classical hallucinogens (psychedelics). This paper first briefly discusses the unique history of human hallucinogen research, and then reviews the risks of hallucinogen administration and safeguards for minimizing these risks. Although hallucinogens are relatively safe physiologically and are not considered drugs of dependence, their administration involves unique psychological risks. The most likely risk is overwhelming distress during drug action (“bad trip”), which could lead to potentially dangerous behavior such as leaving the study site. Less common are prolonged psychoses triggered by hallucinogens. Safeguards against these risks include the exclusion of volunteers with personal or family history of psychotic disorders or other severe psychiatric disorders, establishing trust and rapport between session monitors and volunteer before the session, careful volunteer preparation, a safe physical session environment, and interpersonal support from at least two study monitors during the session. Investigators should probe for the relatively rare hallucinogen persisting perception disorder in follow up contact. Persisting adverse reactions are rare when research is conducted along these guidelines. Incautious research may jeopardize participant safety and future research. However, carefully conducted research may inform the treatment of psychiatric disorders, and may lead to advances in basic science.

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Section: Relevant Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety

2008

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“…Overall, controlled research on the effects of psychedelics before adulthood is extremely scarce, with only a small number of early studies reporting beneficial effects of LSD and psilocybin on children and adolescents aged between 8 and 18 years old with autism and schizophrenia diagnoses (e.g., improvements in symptoms such as hallucinations and mood disturbances, and enhanced communication skills and social functioning) (62)(63)(64)(65). These studies are limited however, by the use of outcome measures that lack the validity of contemporary research standards and were often less rigorous in methodology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological effects of psychedelics in adolescents

Izmi,

Carhart-Harris,

Kettner

2024

Front. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry

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This study aimed to investigate differences in long-term psychological effects, acute subjective effects, and side effects associated with psychedelic use in adolescents (aged 16–24), compared with adults (aged 25+). Data from two observational online survey cohorts was pooled, involving adolescents (average age 20.4 ± 2.2, N = 435) and adults (average age 36.5 ± 9.7, range = 25–71, N = 654) who self-initiated a psychedelic experience and were tracked via online surveys from a pre-experience baseline to four weeks post-use. Self-reported measures of well-being were collected one week before, and two and four weeks after psychedelic use. Acute subjective drug effects, dosage and contextual variables pertaining to the setting of use were measured on the day after the session. Repeated-measures analyses of covariance, t- and z-tests, as well as exploratory correlational and regression analyses tested differences in psychological changes, acute drug effects, and side effects between the two groups. Psychological well-being significantly improved in adolescents two and four weeks following psychedelic use, with a clinically relevant mean change score of 3.3 points (95% CI: 1.1–5.5). on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale [F(1.8, 172.9) = 13.41, η2G = .04, p < .001], statistically indistinguishable from changes in adults. Acute subjective effects differed between the age groups; adolescents reported significantly higher challenging experiences and ego-dissolution. In adolescents, visual symptoms related to “hallucinogen persisting perceptual disorder” (HPPD) were reported at a higher prevalence than in adults (73.5% vs. 34.2%, p < .001) but were reported as distressing by only one adolescent participant. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to examine the psychological effects of psychedelic use specifically in adolescents. Statistically significant improvements in psychological well-being and other domains of mental health were observed, consistent with effects seen previously in adults, providing tentative evidence for the potential utility of psychedelic interventions in adolescents. However, differences in acute subjective effects, specifically the less positive role of ego-dissolution experiences for long-term changes in adolescents, as well as a higher prevalence of HPPD-related symptoms suggest that special considerations might be required when assessing psychedelic treatment design and risks.

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Self-treatment of psychosis and complex post-traumatic stress disorder with LSD and DMT—A retrospective case study

Turkia¹

2022

Psychiatry Research Case Reports

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The Use of Psychedelic Drugs in the Treatment of Severely Disturbed Children: A Review

Cited by 8 publications

References 25 publications

Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety

Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety

Psychological effects of psychedelics in adolescents

Self-treatment of psychosis and complex post-traumatic stress disorder with LSD and DMT—A retrospective case study

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