Psychedelic research 'promotes wellbeing'
The drugs could help alleviate symptoms of OCD
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Monday, 02, Oct 2006 01:08
New studies have suggested that psychedelic drugs and self-hypnosis may have scientific and clinical benefits.
The claim that such techniques could counter complaints such as obsessive compulsive disorder and addictive personalities is made in Science News magazine, with research attempting to add scientific weight to investigations originally undertaken in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today's report says that the 40-year-old studies lacked respectability in the aftermath of the "hippie-era heyday", with problematic research and illegal drug use followed by legal restrictions that ground psychedelic research to a halt.
Modern tests into the non-addictive drug psilocybin apparently show that similar hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD have realistic psychological benefits, as well as promoting creativity.
Three-quarters of test subjects involved in the study said that they had an increased feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction after being given the psilocybin.
Significantly tightened practices were used in comparison to the earlier studies, with drugs administered in a blind fashion; meaning that the true effects against placebos could be gauged.
In addition, interviews were also conducted with individuals' family and friends to verify the self-reporting.
"It's about time that psychology and related fields started taking seriously mystical and other anomalous experiences," the study's authors write.