Effects of Repetition of Verbal Signals Upon the Behaviour of Chronic Psychoneurotic Patients

The work of Donald Ewen Cameron: from psychic driving to MK Ultra

Donald Ewen Cameron is known as the Canadian psychiatrist behind the Montreal Experiments, a series of brainwashing experiments. As part of a larger Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) project known as MK Ultra, the CIA regarded these experiments as a potential military weapon during the Cold War. However, a closer look into Cameron's research and project MK Ultra shows that these experiments began long before Cameron was contacted by the CIA. Additionally, Cameron received funding for his experiments indirectly, so he was probably never aware the money was from the CIA. In this paper, I analyse the published work of Dr Cameron from the beginning of his career to his role in MK Ultra, and evaluate his own possible reasoning behind these experiments.

THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM REPETITION OF VERBAL SIGNALS

1) Eighteen psychoneurotic patients exposed to long-term repetition of verbal signals developed the following attitudes:

a) ten patients incorporated the verbal signals into their day-to-day patterns of behaviour.

b) five patients developed a dependency upon the verbal signals, using them from time to time when they came to difficulties in their daily living.

c) three patients developed a ‘mystical relationship’ to the verbal signals, using them not in terms of their manifest content, but as having ‘magical powers’ to solve their day-to-day problems.

2) The duration of favourable changes produced by verbal repetition can be prolonged and maintained by their reinforcement over a longer period of time if the repetition is continued on an out-patient basis, even at a reduced rate.

3) Modification of associated symptoms occurs as a secondary effect of continued, long-term verbal repetition.

4) Using the procedure described, relapse into older forms of neurotic behaviour can be reduced by modifying the rate and intensity of exposure to verbal signals on a continuing long-term basis.