University of Virginia Library

John Buckman

Probing Medical Possibilities Of LSD

By SAM BARNES

"I view LSD as one of the
most valuable drugs we have in
psycho-analysis because of its
potential in consciousness
exploring," said Assoc.
Psychiatry Prof. John
Buckman. Licensed to
experiment with LSD by the
U.S. Government, Dr.
Buckman will soon begin
experimentation at University
Hospital with the use of LSD
in psychosomatic treatment.

Dr. Buckman has worked in
LSD research since 1956 in
England. He is the author of
one book and 20 pamphlets on
drug usage.

Joined University in 1966

Graduated from the
University of London, Dr.
Buckman first came to the
University as a guest in 1962
and then permanently in
January 1966.

Since the drug was made
illegal in 1966, "national
hysteria has impeded the
progress" of medical research
with LSD, according to Dr.
Buckman.

"We have a number of drugs
in the LSD class which are of
value because they give insight
into the functions of the
normal and abnormal
individual," Dr. Buckman said.

"We are working on a
project of drugs as a means of
recall," he said.

According to Dr. Buckman,
LSD is most useful as an
introspection device which
may help the patient to relive
childhood or even infantile
memories.

Patient Awareness

Profile

Regression in time to the
childhood home, an
atmosphere of parental love,
and the sights and smells of
childhood experiences are

encouraged when patients are
treated with small doses of
LSD.

According to Dr. Buckman,
these experiments will assist
therapists by making the
patient "more aware of what
the doctors need" to help him.

"It's as if the patient needs
to reproduce certain types of
reactions to gain the approval
of the doctors," he said.

After information about the
patient's early life is recalled it
may enable the patient to
better cope with his present
world. Knowledge of early
childhood experiences is also
of value to the therapist on
analyzing his patient

According to Dr. Buckman,
reactions of a patient may be
"programmed" to some extent
to stress early "family
interaction."

The therapy generally
consists of four treatments of a
patient at one- to two-week
intervals, although in some
cases as many as 50 treatments
have been administered. The
patient is able to sit up and
talk to the therapist during the
six-hour clinical sessions.

LSD Unpredictability

Commenting on the
"indiscriminate" abuse of LSD
in recent years, Dr. Buckman
said that the unpredictability
of the drug poses the biggest
threat to the drug abuser.

This " very powerful and
unpredictable drug" may cause
severe depression, suicidal
tendencies, and even insanity