Louis Jolyon West

Louis Jolyon West (October 6, 1924 – January 2, 1999) was an American psychiatrist involved in the public sphere, known mainly for his work/involvement with the MKUltra project, a CIA mind control project in the late 1960s.

In 1954, at the age of 29 and with no previous post-residency fellowship or tenure-track appointment, he became a full professor and chair of psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. From 1969 to 1989, he served as chair of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine and the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.

West's work on brainwashing techniques allowed him to exonerate U.S. servicemen under suspicion of treason for making false confessions during the Korean War era. This brought him to the attention of the CIA. He pioneered research into the use and abuse of LSD.

West was also active in studying the creation and management of cults and anti-death penalty activism.^[1] Along with friend Charlton Heston, he supported the Civil Rights Movement, frequently participating in sit-ins and rallies.^[2] He was a trustee of the American Psychiatric Association and served as a consultant to a variety of governmental organizations, including the United States Air Force, the Peace Corps and the United States Information Agency.