Psychedelic syndrome, also known as chronic LSD syndrome or "acid head" syndrome, is a partially culture-bound psychological syndrome that was proposed to involve pronounced psychosocial and personality changes due to chronic or prolonged use of psychedelic drugs, namely LSD. It was first proposed in 1969 by a physician named David E. Smith, who was the founder and medical director of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic (also known as the "hippie clinic") in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco and who had encountered many people frequently using LSD. He was also an academic and the founder and editor of the Journal of Psychedelic Drugs (1967–present). Others besides Smith made similar or analogous informal observations of the phenomenon as well. According to Smith, the syndrome resulted in profound alterations in psychosocial functioning and lifestyle. The symptoms of the syndrome were claimed to include belief in magic or magical concepts; intense study of "metaphysical objects"; superstition; belief in astrology; belief in mental telepathy, extrasensory perception (ESP), and telekinesis; mysticism; and isolation from general or mainstream society. Additional symptoms were said to include a profound belief in non-violence and rejection of physical aggression, with consequent frequent adoption of vegetarianism due to the rejection of killing; a deep desire to return to nature and more natural ways of being; and self-psychoanalytic, pseudoreligious, and creative aspirations. The symptoms were said to be uncharacteristic of the demographics of the individuals exhibiting them, for instance many of them being from middle-class homes, being above-average in intelligence, previously holding conventional beliefs, and having little background in mystical ideas. They were also said to not be consistent with schizophrenia, as cognitive abilities and intense interpersonal relationships remained intact, and the individuals could only be described as "eccentric". The syndrome and its symptoms have also been referred to as an "unstructured psychedelic religion". People who were claimed to have had psychedelic syndrome often belonged to the psychedelic community or hippie subculture and frequently grouped together in communal living situations. They did not feel themselves to be mentally ill and were not considered sick by other members of their community. As such, the syndrome could only be considered a psychological aberration in terms of the established standards of the dominant culture. This was said to make "treatment" of the syndrome, such as psychotherapy, "virtually impossible", at least as long as the individuals continued to remain in their social groups. Psychological stress and crisis prompted by events like parental, spousal, or monetary pressure were said to usually precipitate "re-entry attempts" into "straight" society. Psychedelic syndrome was thought to be both due to the powerful effects of psychedelics as well as due to cultural influences. Contemporary assessments of psychedelic syndrome have been made and have attributed the conceptualization of the syndrome to the social conservatism of the dominant culture at the time. However, others have considered the syndrome with more credence and have noted that similar phenomena do not seem to occur with other psychoactive drugs. Subsequent scientific research has reported that psychedelics seem to foster development of alternative perspectives on reality and soften conceptual boundaries. They have also since been found to produce lasting personality changes such as increased openness and self-transcendence, cause changes in cognitive flexibility, increase neuroplasticity, and reopen developmental windows or critical learning periods. In addition, psychedelics have been found to increase nature relatededness as well as pro-environmental behavior. Psychedelics have been found to increase the quantity and subjective intensity of insights and thus beliefs, including false, as well. Development of psychosis or schizophrenia due to use of psychedelics appears to be rare and more specific to those with pre-existing susceptibility. In addition, psychedelics might be able to treat some symptoms of schizophrenia, such as negative and depressive symptoms. A somewhat related concept to psychedelic syndrome is Josie Kins's concept of "McKenna syndrome", which she proposes involves overactivation of spiritual or religious drives due to abundant use of psychedelics and causes psychological changes including excessive big-picture thinking, theorizing about reality or the universe and one's place in it, and compulsively evangelizing one's grand cosmic theories to the exclusion of other content.
See also Psychedelic drug Hippie Counterculture of the 1960s Hallucinogen-induced psychotic disorder Temple of the True Inner Light
References