General

LSD therapy makes a comeback

Swiss psychiatrist using psychotropic drug to treat fear

There are no bad trips in Switzerland—or at least in psychiatrist Peter Gasser’s laboratory. Over the last year and a half, Gasser has been experimenting with the use of LSD in the treatment of fear in severely ill patients. The highly controversial study is part of a growing body of research into the efficacy of hallucinogens in psychotherapy. The study group is small (concern about the dangers of LSD means Gasser is only permitted to treat 12 patients) but the preliminary results show promise. “What we hope to demonstrate in the end is that no serious incidents occurred, and that the results suggest that this is an effective treatment method,” he says.

Spiegel Online

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