High Doses Of LSD Lead To ‘Greater Reductions In Depression’ Compared To Low Doses Of The Psychedelic, New Study Finds

High-Dose LSD Shows Promise in Treating Depression, Study Finds

A groundbreaking new study from researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland has shown that
high doses of LSD, when combined with assisted therapy, may significantly reduce depression symptoms.

• Higher doses of LSD (100μg and 200μg) led to greater reductions in depression compared to a low dose (25μg).
• Improvements in symptoms lasted up to 12 weeks post-treatment.
• The study highlights LSD-assisted therapy as a promising new avenue for major depressive disorder (MDD).

Study Design and Methodology

Trial Details:

• Conducted as a randomized, double-blind trial.
• Included 61 patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder.

• Participants were divided into two groups:
  • High-dose group: Received one dose of 100μg and one of 200μg LSD.
  • Low-dose group: Received two doses of 25μg LSD.

• Depression symptoms were evaluated at:
  • Baseline (pre-treatment)
  • 2 weeks post-treatment
  • 6 weeks post-treatment
  • 12 weeks post-treatment

Study Conclusions

• High-dose LSD therapy outperformed low-dose therapy in reducing depressive symptoms.
• The effects were sustained over a longer period, lasting up to 3 months.
• The trial’s strengths included:
  • A clinically representative sample of patients.
  • Consideration of common comorbid conditions.
  • Inclusion of participants with varied prior treatment histories.
  • A longer follow-up period compared to similar studies.
  • Direct comparison between high and low doses.

Safety and Considerations

• LSD was used safely under the trial’s therapeutic framework.
• Compared to psilocybin:
  • LSD has a longer duration of action, requiring more clinical resources.
  • It’s unclear if this longer duration provides additional therapeutic benefits.

Future of LSD in Clinical Therapy

• The study supports the need for a larger Phase 3 clinical trial.
• More research is needed to:
  • Determine whether other hallucinogens offer similar or better outcomes.
  • Understand potential therapeutic differences between LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA.

Broader Psychedelic Research Landscape

• U.S. researchers launched a Phase 3 trial of LSD for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
• The FDA granted “breakthrough therapy” status to LSD for GAD treatment.
• Other substances with breakthrough designation:
  • MDMA
  • Psilocybin

Additional Psychedelic Research

• A dog given LSD for separation anxiety showed no adverse effects and reduced nervousness.
• If LSD is approved for anxiety, it could be prescribed off-label for depression.
• Combining LSD with a microdose of MDMA was found to:
  • Reduce discomfort during the psychedelic experience.
  • Enhance positive emotional outcomes.

Related Study: CBD and Alcohol

A separate study showed that CBD from cannabis may help reduce binge drinking behaviors,
providing additional options in addiction treatment research.

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