Study Suggests LSD May Alleviate Anxiety
A recent study suggests that a single dose of LSD might help ease anxiety and depressive symptoms for extended periods, potentially months. It involved a total of 198 adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a condition affecting roughly 10% of the population annually.
Interestingly, participants who received lower doses of LSD (25 or 50 micrograms) did not experience any notable benefits compared to those given a placebo. However, those on higher doses (100 or 200 micrograms) noticed quick improvements, as reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“By the next day, they were showing strong improvements,” notes Dr. David Feifel from Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute in San Diego, one of the 22 centers involved in the study. “And those improvements held out all the way to the end of the study, which was 12 weeks.”
Despite these promising outcomes, there’s some ambiguity surrounding the results. Robin Carhart-Harris, a psychedelics researcher not associated with the study, raised concerns about non-drug influences, like the sensory environment during treatment, which may have contributed to the observed benefits.
“The safety looks good, and tolerability appears fine,” Carhart-Harris remarks, “but we need more information about how this product was delivered.” He emphasizes that a person’s mindset and the sensory conditions during a psychedelic experience could play a significant role in treatment effectiveness.
Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive worry, making daily functioning challenging. “It’s characterized by continuous worry, inability to relax, and all the physical manifestations, like racing heart rates and sweating,” explains Feifel, who adds that this disorder often coexists with depression.
Current medications like antidepressants and anti-anxiety treatments don’t work well for about half of those diagnosed with GAD.
In this study, researchers tested a proprietary form of LSD known as MM120, developed by MindMed. This drug is quite different from traditional options such as Prozac or Zoloft.
“This is something that has a very distinct subjective experience,” says Feifel, pointing out the unique nature of the psychedelic experience that MM120 offers.
Participants were much more likely to see improvements when given doses of MM120 that could induce a psychedelic experience, which also seemed to help alleviate depressive symptoms.
The Role of Non-Drug Factors
Typically, psychedelic treatments are accompanied by guides or therapists who help ensure a safe and beneficial experience. Treatment rooms often feature calming decor and music. However, it’s less clear in this study how crucial these factors were.
In conducting the sessions, “dosing session monitors” oversaw the process, which included an educational component. They took place in an aesthetically pleasing, private room, and participants were given music and eyeshades.
While these elements may have played a part in the outcomes, Carhart-Harris notes that these details weren’t extensively outlined in the study, potentially leading to variations across different treatment centers.
“Neglecting to discuss aspects like music, which has been integral in nearly all prior psychedelic therapy trials, is a clear oversight,” he emphasizes.
A Psychedelic Future
This recent study is part of a growing trend toward larger, more thorough psychedelic research, often backed by pharmaceutical companies. Such research is necessary to gain FDA approval for drugs like LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin, which could transform treatments for various psychiatric conditions.
“In a few years, we might see psilocybin and magic mushrooms categorized as medicines,” suggests Carhart-Harris, hinting at a potential shift in public and medical perceptions.
The FDA appears receptive to the idea, having granted MM120 “breakthrough therapy” status, which accelerates the development process for promising treatments. MindMed has already embarked on phase 3 trials for MM120, aiming to complete them by 2026.
