I am most grateful for the correspondence regarding my article on psychedelics. Dr Read is right to point out the various techniques for inducing a non-ordinary state of consciousness. As well as the breathwork developed by Grof (Reference Grof1990), humankind has historically used meditation, exercise, fasting, chanting, dancing and even sex to induce transforming internal changes. What all these states have in common is the final goal of increased awareness and a loosening of the ego – facilitating personal exploration and being useful therapeutically to aid psychotherapy. As well as non-drug-induced induced non-ordinary states of consciousness, psychedelics may have an important role to play – both in psychotherapy and in the scientific study of consciousness.

I agree with Dr Edward's comments about statements made by some overenthusiastic individuals of the psychedelic movement. Many clinicians of the 1960s (not to mention writers, artists and pop stars) saw LSD as a magic wand, a common panacea to assure ‘better living through chemistry’. It was this attitude that killed genuine scientific study and kept the therapeutic potential of psychedelics shelved for so long.

Psychedelics cannot save the world, but they may have a role to play as adjuncts to the psychotherapeutic treatment of neuroses. We must at least study and research their potential with modern randomised controlled trials. For the hundreds of clinicians and thousands of patients of the 1950s and 1960s that witnessed the safe and effective usage of psychedelics, these substances did appear to be useful (Reference Masters and HoustonMasters & Houston, 1973). But as a profession we need to distance ourselves from the Timothy Leary-esque, messianic approach to psychedelics, if we are to allow a dispassionate and scientific study of their potential.

I was pleased to read Dr Crowley's in-depth understanding of the complexity and value of the altered state of consciousness. Thankfully, there are clinicians such as Dr Crowley with the confidence not to dismiss the non-ordinary state of consciousness as mere ‘acute confusion’, but to believe that psychedelics, and non-drug non-ordinary states of consciousness, can inform and enlighten us with new approaches to understanding the mechanisms (and associated pathologies) of the brain. Since the earliest human societies we have sought knowledge and healing from these states – perhaps now this technique can be utilised in a scientific and evidence-based approach to relieve the burden of anxiety disorders for today's patients.

I am most grateful to Dr Sandison for his kind and supportive words – and thank him for the correction regarding the date of the American Psychiatric Association conference in 1955. I share his astonishment at the medical profession's inability or unwillingness to embrace the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. This shortcoming is augmented by the fact that the hiatus in research over the past 40 years appears to have been for socio-political rather than scientific reasons – and it is those pioneering psychiatrists like Dr Sandison who are right to feel disheartened.

I am enthusiastic, however, at the current re-emergence of interest in this field. There are increasing numbers of randomised controlled trials of psychedelics (largely from the USA) and these may yield results that guide future therapeutic applications (http://www.maps.org; http://www.heffter.org). There is also increasing interest in using psychedelics in consciousness research in the UK (http://www.beckleyfoundation.org).

I do hope that my article, and a forthcoming meeting to be held at the College (contact me at [email protected] for further details), can help raise awareness of this subject. I also agree with Dr Sandison in his plea for continued support from the College to bring this subject to the attention of doctors in the UK.