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These difficulties in no way alter the importance of this type of investigation into
the phenomenon. They simply indicate that we are ill prepared to describe it or to make
specific assessments relating to its therapeutic consequences.
Because of the difficulties in assessment, it would seem useful to attempt the
development of a self-rating scale which would require the individual to indicate both
any area in which he felt that changes occurred and the extent of any changes which he
felt he had undergone as a result of taking the drug. The Nowlis (38), (39) studies into
drug induced mood alteration have demonstrated that quantification through introspection
provides a particularly useful methodology for the study of psychological change induced
by drugs. This method has been adapted in an attempt to gain some quantitative
assessment of the psychedelic experience both in terms of areas of overlap of experience
between individuals and between sessions an din terms of individual reaction
constellations or typical response patterns.
Any assessment of the validity of such ratings would be difficult. For in
behavioral terms the validity of psychotherapeutic change can only be established upon
the basis of the ancient but as yet unmodified criterion  by their fruits ye shall know
them . We might, however, hope for an approximate validity check by obtaining
corresponding ratings of the subject by people who know him well. Although in this
procedure error variation will result from differences between raters in keenness of
awareness and observation of change, if the drug be as effective therapeutically as it is
claimed, at least some of the changes induced by the experience in the behavior of the
subject should be so obvious as to be readily observable.
The development of such a scale will take much time and energy. Abramson and
his co-workers ( ), Nowlis and Nowlis (38), Wendt (51) and many others have made
important contributions toward such a development. There is as yet, however, no scale
aimed at the assessment and description of the psychedelic experience and its after-
effects. For this reason a tentative scale is presented below in the hope that it may be
useful as a basis for further investigation.
THE ASSESSMENT SCALE
In this attempt to evaluate the psychedelic experience, it was not the intention to
cover all areas of drug induced change. A scale which attempted to cover all areas of
drug induced change. A scale which attempted to do so would be very long for practical
purposes. For this reason the items of the scale have been selected because they deal
with changes commonly reported or observed during and subsequent to the LSD
experience.
An examination of a subject s ratings on these selected items will indicate the
level of experience which he attained and will provide information regarding his
assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of the experience he has undergone. In this regard,
it may also be used to study the differential effect of various dosages. By comparing
records the frequency of occurrence of the various facets of the experience can be
established. Over a series of sessions, consistent individual patterns can be distinguished
and when a sufficient number of cases are tested differences brought about through
repeated experiences can be studied.
It is hoped that by having both the subject and people who know him well
complete Scale 2, some inferences may be drawn as to the social validity of the subject s
belief that he has changed.
It is not intended that either scale be administered during the session itself. They
can be administered at any time subsequent to the experience, preferably scale 1 should
be completed within the next few days. It would be wise to delay obtaining responses to
Scale 2 for some weeks or months as it takes some time and he will be unable to assess
the degree of change for some time. When other people are asked to rate a subject it is
wise to wait a similar period of time to give them ample opportunity to observe any
changes which may have taken place.
It should be remembered also that the drug sometimes appears to have a delayed
action upon behavior. No change may be noted for two or three months, but the
alteration after this period is sometimes sudden and dramatic. While such change can be
ascribed to other factors, this behavioral change occurring some months after an LSD
session which has apparently been therapeutically unsuccessful, is not uncommon. This
would seem to offer a further reason for delaying the completion of the assessment.
APPENDIX A
SCALES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHEDELIC REACTIONS
Note
Since the studies reported in Appendix B were completed, the scale has been
revised. Initially a three point scale was utilized. The scoring categories were  very
much ,  Little , and  None . These appeared to be too gross and a category seemed to
be necessary to indicate moderate response.
One of the major problems encountered in administering the scale is the difficulty
of distinguishing, in one s assessment, between duration and intensity. A feeling may be
intense but brief or mild but extremely prolonged. The scale in its present form makes no
attempt to distinguish between these.
Scale 1
Below are listed a number of things that have been frequently reported by people
who have taken certain drugs. Of course, different people feel the effect of the drug
differently and some of the listed things will be felt more strongly or for a longer time
than others. Would you please indicate the extent to which you felt each of the listed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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