DPT-assisted psychotherapy in terminal illness

The following is summarised from a paper entitled 'Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Terminally Ill' by Bruce Sewick of Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois (dated May 18, 1997, published on the Internet by MAPS Inc, 2121 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 220-A, Charlotte, NC 28205, USA, tel 001 704 334 1798; fax 001 704 334 1799; e-mail: <info@maps.org>; the paper is available in full on the Internet at <http://www.maps.org/research/sewick.html>).

Richards et al 1972), studied the effects of the psychedelic DPT on those who were terminally ill. DPT is a shorter acting drug with properties similar to LSD. They were interested in DPT because it was more convenient to use than LSD, which demanded a considerable commitment of time. In contrast to LSD, DPT's duration of action is 1 hour 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on dosage. Its effects terminate quickly, unlike the wavelike termination period of LSD. Moreover, patients often reported more energy after the session because of DPT's properties. Two studies examined the effects of DPT in lieu of LSD.

Richards, Rhead, DiLeo, Yensen, and Kurland (1977) administered 75-127.5 mg. of DPT intramuscularly to 34 cancer patients who had received an average of 20.5 hours of therapy during the preceding month. Following the protocol used by Bonny and Pahnke (1972), Richards et al examined whether the patients experiencing a peak experience showed greater clinical improvement than the group of non-peakers. To assess improvement, two psychological tests, the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) based upon Maslow's concept of the self-actualizing person and the Mini-Mult, an abbreviated form of the MMPI, were administered. In addition, interviewers using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale assessed psychological distress. Additional psychological inventories and the interviews were used to assess clinical improvement in the patients. The Psychedelic Experience Questionnaire (PEQ) and the Peak Experience Rating Form (PERF) determined whether the patient had a peak experience as defined by Pahnke and Richards (1966). The results indicated a greater magnitude of clinical improvement for those experiencing a peak experience than those who did not.

'A greater magnitude of clinical improvement for those experiencing a peak experience'

Richards, Rhead, Grof, Goodman, DiLeo and Rush (1979) quantified the clinical improvement brought about by DPT-assisted psychotherapy with 30 cancer patients. Psychotherapeutic procedures utilised the same protocol as those used in Richards (1975). The patients showed a decrease in depression, anxiety, hysteria, paranoia, hypomania, and schizophrenic qualities in the Mini-Mult after DPT-assisted therapy. Post therapeutic results on POI variables showed the patients were living in the present rather than the past, were more assertive and confident, had increased feelings of self worth and acceptance, and had a greater capacity for intimate contact.

'Patients had increased feelings of self worth and acceptance, and had a greater capacity for intimate contact'

From these results, Richards, Rhead, Grof, et al., concluded that DPT was a better psychedelic alternative than LSD. Their only caveat, however, was that the rapid onset of DPT increased the role of the therapeutic relationship. Because the patient encountered potent psychological material within ten minutes of DPT administration, as opposed to two hours or more with LSD, the therapist had to be skilled in averting any panic or paranoid reactions.

At this time DPT is the only non-scheduled psychedelic which has been used to treat the terminally ill (MAPS, personal communication, March 18, 1997). In addition to the scheduled drugs, there are other short acting 'designer' psychedelics that could provide all the positive aspects with minimal side effects. CZ-74 (a psilocybin derivative) and LE-25 (a phenethylamine) are examples of this (Passie, cited in MAPS, 1996-97).

References

- Bonny, H., & Pahnke, W. (1972). The use of music in psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy. Journal of Music Therapy, 9, 64-87.
- Pahnke, W. & Richards, W. (1966). Implications of LSD and experimental mysticism. Journal of Religion and Health, 5(3), 175-208.
- Passie, T, (1996). Hanscarl Leuner pioneer of hallucinogen research and psycholytic theory. MAPS, 6(1), 46-49.
- Richards, W., Grof, S., Goodman, L., & Kurland, A. (1972). LSD-assisted psychotherapy and the human encounter with death. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 4, (121), 121-150.
- Richards, W. (1975). Counselling peak experiences and the human encounter with death. Doctoral Dissertation, The Catholic University of America.
- Richards, W., Rhead, J., DiLeo, F., Yensen, & Kurland, A. (1977). The peak experience variable in DPT- assisted psychotherapy with cancer patients. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, 9(1), 1-10.
- Richards, W., Rhead, J., Grof, S., Goodman, L., DiLeo, F., & Rush, L. (1979). DPT as an adjunct in brief psychotherapy with cancer patients. Omega Journal of Death and Dying, 10, 9-26.

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