Psychedelic science: How LSD could reshape anxiety treatment

Researchers have conducted a rigorous clinical trial examining LSD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, with results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing promising outcomes for patients who have struggled to find relief with existing medications. Cleveland Clinic psychiatrist Dr. Brian Barnett, who participated in the multi-site study, says the findings address a critical gap in mental health treatment. About one-third of patients with psychiatric conditions don't respond to any existing treatments, affecting millions of Americans with depression, anxiety and other disorders. "Our existing treatments, there's a little variability depending on the particular condition, but generally about a third of patients with a particular condition will not respond to any psychiatric treatment," said Barnett. "So, when you think about that at scale, that's millions of people who have depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder that's not responding to treatment." The Phase 2b study, conducted by Mind Medicine Inc., involved 198 adults with moderate-to-severe generalized anxiety disorder across 22 psychiatric research sites in the United States. Participants received a single dose of MM120, a pharmaceutical-grade form of LSD, at varying strengths or a placebo. The most effective dose, 100 micrograms, showed significant improvements in anxiety symptoms that lasted throughout the 12-week observation period. Patients receiving this dose experienced a 7.6-point greater reduction in anxiety scores compared to those taking placebo, with 65% showing clinical response and 48% achieving clinical remission by week 12.