LSD Shows Promise as Rapid Treatment for Anxiety Disorders, New Study Finds
LONDON – A groundbreaking new study suggests that high doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may offer a surprisingly rapid and ample improvement for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders. published research indicates that approximately 46 percent of participants receiving higher doses of LSD achieved remission – defined as scoring 7 points or less on symptom surveys – following treatment.
The study, conducted by researchers at University College London and led by psychologist Sunjeev Kamboj, involved multiple groups receiving varying doses of LSD or placebo pills. While lower doses of LSD and the placebo resulted in symptom improvements of 14 to 17 points,with roughly 20 percent reaching remission,the higher LSD doses demonstrated a “substantial difference” compared to the placebo,according to kamboj.”This means an improvement that is really noticeable in the limitations and the experienced stress,” Kamboj explained.
Researchers noted that participants in the placebo group also experienced improvements, a common phenomenon in anxiety disorder research likely due to the supportive surroundings of the study. Most participants were able to accurately discern whether they had received LSD or a placebo, often due to the hallucinogenic effects of the drug. Headaches and nausea were reported by some participants within twelve hours of taking the pills, with these side effects being less prevalent in the lower-dose and placebo groups.
Kamboj cautioned that disentangling the drug’s direct effects from participant expectations remains a challenge. However, he asserts that the study provides the ”best proof so far” that LSD could be a valuable treatment for anxiety.
The promising results have garnered attention from the American Food and Drug Governance (FDA), which is now considering the development of an LSD treatment in collaboration with MindMed. Further, more extensive investigations into the long-term benefits of LSD treatment are currently underway, with results anticipated in the coming years.
