The psychoactive drug often associated with the 1960s counterculture movement, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), is being studied as a potential treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
The study, published in JAMA, enrolled 198 adults at 22 US sites and tracked them for 12 weeks. Participants were given an oral LSD formulation called MM120 or a placebo.
Those who received 100–200 microgram doses produced the strongest results, with patients improving by about 5–6 points more than placebo, and benefits lasting up to three months.
Researchers noted that all 40 participants who received the 200-microgram dose experienced perceptual changes, which may play a role in reducing anxiety symptoms.
Experts praised the trial’s findings but stressed caution
LSD’s 8–12-hour long duration makes use challenging, and it must be administered in a clinical setting. Common short-term side effects included hallucinations, visual distortions, nausea, and headaches, but serious adverse effects were rare.
Although the results are promising, researchers say larger Phase 3 clinical trials are needed to confirm the drug's safety and effectiveness before it can be considered for widespread use.