Erowid
 
 
Plants - Drugs Mind - Spirit Freedom - Law Arts - Culture Library  
Erowid References Database
Abramson HA, Hewitt MP, Lennard H, Turner WJ, O'Neill FJ, Merlis S. 
“The stablemate concept of therapy as affected by LSD in schizophrenia”. 
J. Psychol.. 1958;45:75.
Abstract
A description is given of a group process involving the contact of schizophrenic patients with non-psychotic subjects. The group consists of a schizophrenic, a "stablemate" (a non-psychotic subject generally of the same age and sex as the schizophrenic) and the therapist (group leader). . Under these conditions studies were made of two schizophrenics given LSD (usually 50 mcg orally) or placebo. The findings are based on eight sessions for the first patient (four placebo and four LSD sessions) and seven for the second patient (three placebo and four LSD sessions). . LSD increased the participation of the schizophrenic in the group process, i.e., the schizophrenic spoke more often. The patient's affective references revolving around the self decreased and affective references centering around other persons increased. The direction of this increased participation and communication was different from that previously noted. It is suggested that LSD might prove useful in facilitating communication in psychotherapy. . The studies also showed that the chronic schizophrenic responds to the same small dose of LSD as does the normal subjects but that the response is not the same. . The stablemate concept might be visualized by considering what occurs when two horses from the same stable are entered in a race. The potentially winning horse, by having a familiar partner in the race to whom he is conditioned, is motivated to overcome the stresses of a strange competition because of adaptation to a familiar and safe object, the stablemate. . Condrau (No. 3) and Savage (No. 95), found that chronic schizophrenics did not make as marked a respone to LSD as did normal subjects. . The recommendation to use LSD to facilitate communication in psychotherapy is in line with the results obtained by the Sandison group, by Frederking and others.
Comments and Responses to this Article
#
Submit Comment
[ Cite HTML ]