Research Projects

Swiss Pilot Study Investigating the use of LSD in the Palliative care of the Dying

 The first clinical study involving LSD in psychotherapy for many years has recently achieved full approvals from the Swiss authorities. This will investigate the safety and efficacy of LSD as part of a palliative treatment programme to ease pain and pre-death anxiety in those suffering from terminal illnesses. The Beckley Foundation is a supporting sponsor of this valuable study, directed by MAPS, as it is in line with our aim to explore techniques that produce altered states of consciousness which help promote well-being.

The trial will be conducted by Dr Peter Gasser, president of the Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy. This is an association of private specialists in psychotherapy and psychiatry, which in the period 1988-93, were given permission to use LSD as a tool in psychotherapy. These findings suggested that LSD could safely be given to patients with a variety of mental health issues. Many patients reported improvements, and rated as important experiences of unity and spiritual experiences, while negative experiences were also important for some patients, no persistent difficulties were reported.

These and other findings from the years prior to the cessation of formal LSD research worldwide, have led to the development of a randomised, controlled trial of LSD for 12 patients with end-of-life anxiety, related to terminal illness. The trial is a phase II safety study, which will seek to evaluate whether LSD can be safely given to such patients. This type of study is required to be done before a full clinical trial, which would aim to investigate fully the clinical impact of the drug in a patient group.