A recent groundbreaking study has revealed that the consumption of a single dose of the psychedelic substance LSD can lead to a decrease in anxiety levels. Although the impact of the drug is not immediate, it can be observed within a few weeks and is considered to be meaningful.
MindMed, a company that specializes in developing innovative treatments for brain health disorders, conducted the research that led to this discovery. According to their team, administering 100 micrograms of a specific type of LSD resulted in substantial and lasting improvement for individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, a prevalent form of anxiety.
Groundbreaking Research Shows Promising Results for LSD as an Anxiety Treatment
GAD results in individuals experiencing excessive and unrealistic worry over mundane matters.
This persistent fear and anxiety results in a continual state of distress, causing the individual to feel constantly overwhelmed. It is estimated that in the US, around 20 million adults, equating to roughly 10% of the adult population, are currently struggling with this condition.
According to Dr. David Feifel, who contributed to the study, he has encountered many drugs in development for anxiety treatment in his more than 20 years of clinical research in psychiatry. However, he stressed that the effectiveness and long-lasting relief provided by a single dose of MM120 is exceptionally impressive.
The study found that administering a 100 micrograms dose of MM120 resulted in a 48% recovery rate from GAD after 12 weeks. Additionally, within a three-month period, approximately 65% of patients demonstrated improvements.
Dr. Daniel Karlin, assistant professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, stated that the improvement seen in many patients was more than twice as much as that of the current standard care options.
In addition, the enhancement was observed in individuals with varying levels of anxiety, ranging from mild to severe.
During the research period, no psychotherapy was incorporated in the study. Instead, different doses between 25 and 200 micrograms were tested against a placebo. After analyzing the outcomes, the team concluded that the 100-micrograms dose was the most effective and should be used in future phase three studies.
According to Karlin, there was no noticeable improvement with the 200-micrograms dose, but additional adverse effects were observed.
The Potential of LSD as a Treatment for Mental Health Disorders
The observed negative reactions ranged from mild to moderate in severity. These included sensations of extreme happiness, distorted perceptions, delusions, unease, unusual thought patterns, head pain, lightheadedness, queasiness, profuse sweating, retching, numbness or prickling sensations on the skin, and enlarged pupils on the day of administration.
Similar to all other new drug products, this drug will need to go through the standard FDA approval process before it is available for patients. Fortunately, it is expected to move into phase three trials shortly. This is a positive development, especially considering the large number of individuals who experience GAD and other forms of anxiety.
It should be noted that this solitary dose of LSD also demonstrated significant enhancement in symptoms of depression. It is common for depression and anxiety to co-occur, causing many individuals to struggle with both conditions.
According to Karlin, the drug not only provided relief for anxiety but also helped ease the overlapping symptoms of depression.
This study concludes that taking a single dose of LSD can reduce anxiety symptoms by 50% and offer relief within a few weeks.
This groundbreaking study is a significant advancement in combating generalized anxiety disorder, offering optimism for the millions who are battling with this illness.
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