Psychedelic psychiatry was a topic I knew little of. The use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in treating mental illness seemed an alien and somewhat dangerous concept. I was interested to see what emerged from this historical review of these practices in North America in the 1950s and '60s. The author, an assistant professor in history, narrates the real life events from the perspective of the two main protagonists, Humphry Osmond and Abram Hoffer. Osmond was a British psychiatrist who trained at Guy's and Hoffer was an American psychiatrist. They were kindred spirits, both biologically minded in their approach to treatment. The story of psychedelic psychiatry and LSD is told as if it was intertwined with their professional fates.
The book reads like a tragedy. There is initially much hope and enthusiasm that LSD could lead to major breakthroughs in understanding the biological basis of mental illness. There were hugely promising results from trials. Hoffer and Osmond appear as pioneers on the edge of a great leap in psychiatric treatment through the use of LSD. But as with tragedies, LSD, psychedelic psychiatry and the two main characters suffer repeated blows. The psychiatric world becomes reluctant to acknowledge the results, for various reasons. Increasingly desperate to make their mark, Hoffer and Osmond seek other non-medical uses of LSD such as aiding self-realisation and spirituality. This alienates them further and leads to the journey of LSD from clinic to campus. The ‘tragedy’ ends with LSD becoming increasingly used illicitly. Eventually, this leads to statutory legislation that heavily restricts and stigmatises its clinical use. Thus, LSD, psychedelic psychiatry and the two main characters are pushed to the backwaters of psychiatry.
The story is very well written and researched, allowing the reader to have empathy for the two psychiatrists through the highs and lows of their journey. Along the way the author gives fascinating insights into conflicts within psychiatry. She also illustrates how societal views and politics can influence the development of psychiatric treatments. Overall, the book is a good read and has the bonus of imparting historical understanding of psychiatry during its most exciting and innovative era.
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