PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCES AT THE BEGINNING OF ACUTE ENDOGENOUS PSYCHOTIC EPISODES

Hallucinogenic drugs (psychedelics, e.g. Psilocybin, Mescalin, LSD) in duce in humans qualitatively altered states of consciousness (ASC), wh ich can be used as experimental models for endogenous psychosis. Howev er, some researchers claim that these ASCs are not appropriate models for schizophrenia. We report two clinical cases of acute endogenous ps ychoses demonstrating striking similarities to psychedelic experiences . We consider the psychedelic-induced ASC to be an appropriate model f or the beginning acute endogenous psychotic episode, but not for the s chizophrenic disease as a nosological entity.