The Use of Psychedelic Agents

with Autistic Schizophrenic Children

Robert E. Mogar & Robert W. Aldrich

from Psychedelic Review Number 10, 1969

Evidence from seven independent studies indicates LSD

may help free the most severely imprisoned minds.

In recent years, a number of exploratory investigations have been reported involving the administration of psychedelic agents to young children suffering from severe forms of psychological disturbance (Abramson, 1960; Bender, et al., 1962; Bender, et al., 1963; Fisher & Castile, 1963; Freedman, et al., 1962; Rolo, et al., 1965; Simmons, et al., 1966). As either therapeutic or experimental undertakings, these studies are extremely fragmentary and suffer gross shortcomings. As a case in point, wide diversity along major dimensions known to influence drug response and treatment effectiveness characterize this work. These include the agent employed, dosage level, number and frequency of administrations, therapist expectations and previous experience with psychedelic drugs, and finally the setting and circumstances surrounding the drug-induced state. With regard to patient characteristics, the children treated were demographically varied and covered a broad age range. More importantly, the samples were markedly heterogeneous with respect to the nature, severity, and duration of modal symptoms. The major experimental shortcomings included small samples, subjective and vague criteria of drug effects and improvement, and grossly inadequate follow-up.

Despite their diversity and severe limitations, these seminal explorations in an extremely complex area of research seem worthy of wider reportage and more serious attention than they have hitherto received. Almost without exception, these reports have appeared in obscure publications or remain unpublished. A more significant reason for their relative neglect has been the polarized controversy surrounding psychedelic agents which has all but completely curtailed publicly-sanctioned research.

In this critique of the use of psychedelic agents with severely disturbed children, the various studies conducted thus far will be comprehensively reviewed and integrated. Particular attention will be given to their similarities and differences along known relevant dimensions in order to detect communalities and possible reasons for inconsistent findings. While some attempt will be made to resolve seemingly contradictory results, the heuristic value of this work will be emphasized rather than its conclusiveness . Hopefully, the tentative conclusions derived from these initial efforts will point the way for more definitive studies into the therapeutic efficacy of psychedelic agents with childhood disorders.

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS

RATIONALE AND HYPOTHESES

DRUG REGIME

PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MILIEU

RESULTS



". . .the vocabularies of several of the children increased after LSD or UML; several seemed to be attempting to form words or watched adults carefully as they spoke; many seemed to comprehend speech for the first time or were able to communicate their needs... Very few of these changes in communication had been noted previously in such a large number of children, and at such a relatively rapid rate" (1963, p. 91).



" They appeared flushed, bright eyed, and unusually interested in the environment... They participated with increasing eagerness in motility play with adults and other children. . . They seek positive contacts with adults, approaching them with face uplifted and bright eyes, and responding to fondling, affection, etc." (1962, pp. 172- 3). "There is less stereotyped whirling and rhythmic behavior. . . They became gay, happy, laughing frequently... Some showed changes in facial expression in appropriate reactions to situations for the first time" (1963, pp. 90-91).



" Therapeutic intervention in severely retarded or regressed children utilizes to a great extent close physical interaction to which the child must respond. In the usual state it is often difficult to intrude upon the child because of a general lack of responsiveness... The results of our experiments clearly demonstrate changes in exactly these areas with increased attendance to physical and face contact with an attending adult and concomitant reduction of competing self- stimulatory behavior... Thus, two possible criteria for the successful intervention into autistic children are met... A third piece of data which must be considered is the increase in smiling and laughing behavior. . ." (1966, p. 1207).

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

TABLE 1

(Back to Text)

Summary of Patient Samples, Drug Regime, and Improvement Estimates Reference Patients Age Agent Dose

(mcg) Treatments Schedule Excel. (a) Good Poor Abramson 1960 6 5-14 LSD 40 3 - 6 weekly 5 - 1 Freedman 1962 12 6-12 LSD 100 1 - - 5 7 Bender 1962 14 6-10 LSD 100 45 (b) daily 7 7 - Bender 1963 44 6-15 LSD, UML 50-150 4-12mg 60 (c) daily 20 21 3 Fisher & Castile 1963 12 6-15 LSD, psilo 50-400 10-20mg 1-11 (d) biweekly / monthly 4 4 4 Rolo 1965 1 12 LSD 100 28 daily - - 1 Simmons 1966 2 5 LSD 50 9 twice weekly 2 - - total 91 totals 38 37 16

REFERENCES