Lsd and mental health: insights from a new study
As with many psychedelic substances, the most recognized function of LSD is its use as a recreational drug. Yet, this compound has long attracted scientists’ attention for its potential to treat mental health disorders. These substances sometimes aren’t enough on their own, but they might help make psychological therapy more effective. At times, LSD itself could relieve symptoms of depression without additional support. The catch is that most research conducted so far on LSD and depression took place in controlled laboratory settings, and there’s been little exploration of its effectiveness when patients use it in their own homes.
That was until now. A recent study from a group of Australian researchers marks the first clinical trial exploring LSD for depression in which patients are taking doses independently at home.
The importance of microdosing LSD for depression treatment
Uncontrolled use of LSD or any hallucinogenic drug can be quite dangerous. It can lead to a disconnection from reality, as well as symptoms such as panic attacks, anxiety, or even psychosis. Those consuming it may put themselves—and others—in jeopardy.
Yet, growing evidence suggests that controlled doses can be effective for enhancing creativity or addressing mental health issues. This is why the authors of the new study opted for microdosing. This method involves administering what are known as sub-perceptual doses, meaning doses significantly lower than what is typically needed to produce detectable effects. A single dose by itself wouldn’t lead to noticeable changes. For this study, participants were instructed to consume these tiny doses twice a week for eight weeks.
What occurred?
Just two weeks after starting the treatment, participants began to show the first positive results. Impressively, these benefits continued even six months after the treatment concluded.
Before beginning the trial, participants had an average score of 23.7 on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), a clinically validated measure of depressive symptom severity. By the end of the treatment, this average dropped to 9.5, and notably, nine of the nineteen participants were classified as being in remission.
On the whole, side effects were minimal. One participant left the study due to anxiety, but this could likely be attributed to suggestion rather than the drug itself.
Recognizing the limitations
This study involved only 19 participants and did not utilize a placebo. The results may be influenced by suggestive effects. It’s entirely possible that the microdoses acted more as a placebo. Plus, the sample size is relatively small.
Nevertheless, whatever the reason for these encouraging results may be, there’s ample justification for continuing research into clinical trials and testing these microdoses of LSD with a larger group of participants and more robust experimental designs. This is a strong illustration of the well-known phrase that the importance lies in the dose. In this context, a few microdoses could significantly improve individuals’ quality of life.
