NEW DRUG FOR SUNNYSIDE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 1

NEW DRUG FOR SUNNYSIDE

Sunnyside Hospital has received a supply of a new drug similar to the controversial “heaven and hell” drug LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) but milder in its effect. Dr. T. E. Hall, medical superintendent of Sunnyside HospitaL said the new drug, psilocybin, was supplied by the same Swiss firm which made LSD and was used for the same purpose. It had not yet been used at Sunnyside. He said the active ingredient in psilocybin was extracted from a certain type of mushroom. When LSD was used on outpatients, doctors liked them to stay in hospital overnight, but this was not necessary with the new drug because of its milder action. Like LSD, the mushroom drug had two effects. It

helped to discharge repressed emotions and it helped facilitate the re.ival of memories from early childhood. Dr. Hall said that there were other techniques, such as hypno-analysis, which were effective for the same purpose, but drugs such as LCD seemed to do it particularly well. Ten Patients He said that LSD had been used on fewer than 10 patients at Sunnyside in the last two years. “The cases we have used it for have been, on the whole, those with neurotic personality disorders,” he said. “We have used it on some alcoholics. “We have felt here from what we have read and discussed among ourselves that LSD should be used only as an adjunct to psychotherapy. For instance, in each case here the patient has been

thoroughly investigated by psychotherapy first. You have got to carry psychotherapy so far first before using the drug. “We have not got an overall picture, but we have certainly found it helpful. We have not had enough experience with LSD to be able to say just how helpful it is.” Dr. Hall said LSD was an unpleasant experience for the patient ‘lt is obviously a very potent thing,” he said. "It can be most therapeutic if applied in the right way, but it can have bad effects if it is misapplied.’’ Restricted Use

Use of LSD is permitted only to psychiatrists, not general practitioners. Psychiatrists must register their use of it with the Director-Gen-eral of Health. Dr. Hall said that while he felt that great caution should i be used in supplying the drug

so that it was not misused, It would be a great pity if It were withdrawn by the makers because of Its misuse in other countries. He knew of no abuse of the drug in New Zealand. “It is not a habit-forming drug, so far as I’ve beard,” he said, “but 1 think its use should be restricted to psychiatrists.” Other psychiatrists in Christchurch have also been using LSD on selected neurotic patients, Dr. J. R. E. Dobson, psychotherapist at Christchurch Hospital, has used it on two patients for more than 30 interviews. He finds it a valuable adjunct to psychotherapy, but he said it was certainly a drug with hazards.

“It needs to be used in a responsible fashion,” he said, “and I fulTy support measures to see that it does not get into unauthorised hands.” LSD has also been used extensively by Dr. H. D. Livingston at Calvary Day Hospital.