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Exploring the Potential of LSD for Treating Anxiety Disorders in 2026

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LSD and its effects on brain rewiring

LSD May Enhance Brain Rewiring and Alleviate Anxiety

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Two significant trials examining the potential of the hallucinogen LSD to alleviate anxiety are set to conclude in 2026. Early-stage trials have shown promising results, potentially allowing the treatment to be available in the United States by 2027.

Generalized anxiety disorder is prevalent, causing intense anxiety about various issues. Traditional treatments often include antidepressants and talk therapy, yet approximately half of patients do not respond adequately.

Other psychedelics, like psilocybin and MDMA, are already being utilized in certain nations, including Australia and Switzerland, to treat severe depression and PTSD. LSD is gaining attention in mental health studies, primarily because it has been shown to induce deep emotional experiences and may enhance the brain’s capacity to form new neural connections.

A pivotal trial in 2025 demonstrated that a single high dose of LSD significantly reduced moderate to severe anxiety for a duration of at least three months.

Currently, two late-stage trials are ongoing, with results expected in 2026. Each trial involves about 200 participants with moderate to severe anxiety who will receive either 100 micrograms of LSD or a placebo. Their anxiety levels will be monitored over three months post-administration.

In the subsequent 10-month phase, all participants, including those initially on a placebo, will have the opportunity to take LSD if they report their anxiety reaching a predefined threshold on a standardized scale. This design aims to assess the duration of effects following a single dose. Dan Carlin, affiliated with New York biotech firm MindMed, has been involved in both the 2025 trial and the current studies.

The primary distinction between the two studies is that, in the second trial, an additional group will receive 50 micrograms of LSD. The 2025 trial indicated this dosage could induce hallucinations but didn’t effectively diminish anxiety compared to the placebo, thereby addressing a common challenge in psychedelic research—participants often struggle to identify if they received the active drug.

Participants in this third group will be aware they received LSD but will remain uncertain if the dosage is sufficient to alleviate anxiety, as noted by Sandeep Nayak of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, who is not part of these trials.

If the results of both trials are favorable, the FDA could approve LSD for anxiety treatment in the United States by 2027, potentially leading to approval in Europe and other regions.

“If the upcoming trial confirms results similar to the previous ones from 2025, that should satisfy the FDA,” said Boris Heifetz of Stanford University.

A meaningful impact on patients’ lives is typically defined as a 3 to 5-point difference on the anxiety scale between placebo and LSD groups, as noted by Nayak. The 2025 trial showed a difference of approximately five points, indicating a strong possibility the next trial will meet this threshold. However, any therapeutic benefits must be weighed against the duration of effects and potential side effects.

For instance, temporary psychological distress during treatment might be acceptable to the FDA, unlike long-lasting distress, Nayak stated. Notably, long-term distress was not observed in the 2025 trial.

Even with potential approval, Nayak emphasizes it may take several years for LSD to become widely accessible for anxiety disorders, and it would likely be a last-resort treatment after conventional therapies fail. This is primarily due to the logistical challenges, such as the need for clinicians to supervise patients during psychedelic experiences.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Single Doses of LSD Appear to Alleviate Anxiety

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Can psychedelics be effective against common anxiety disorders?

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Research indicates that a single dose of LSD may alleviate anxiety without causing lasting side effects.

“We are conducting the first modern examination of LSD and its effects on common anxiety disorders,” says Dan Carlin from Mindmed in New York.

This disorder is marked by persistent worry about various issues, including work and relationships. Standard treatments often involve mood-enhancing medications and therapies, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants.

However, approximately half of patients do not respond to these treatments. “SSRIs are ineffective for many; they can produce side effects, such as emotional numbness, and must be taken daily to have any effect,” Carlin explains.

Previous studies propose that LSD might serve as an alternative treatment. Psychedelics are frequently used for their mind-altering hallucinations in recreational contexts. Carlin believes they may operate by enhancing serotonin levels in the brain, which improve mood, and may also encourage the brain’s capacity for rewiring and developing new thought patterns.

Nonetheless, so far, trials directly comparing LSD with a placebo have not specifically evaluated its effects on generalized anxiety disorder.

To address this issue, Carlin and his team recruited 198 adults with this condition. Participants gradually reduced their current anxiety medications, while those receiving psychotherapy continued their sessions.

In a standard clinical assessment, participants rated the intensity of 14 symptoms, including worry, tension, and difficulty focusing, on a scale from 0-4.

The team then randomly assigned participants into five groups—those receiving LSD (in doses of 25, 50, 100, or 200 micrograms) or placebo tablets. The following day, those who received doses of 100 and 200 micrograms reported greater symptom relief compared to other groups, according to Karlin.

One month later, participants who took the 100 and 200 microgram doses noted an average anxiety reduction of 21 and 19 points, respectively, with improvements sustained until the study’s conclusion three months later. Approximately 46% of these individuals were in remission.

In contrast, those receiving placebo and the lower doses experienced a 14-17 point reduction in anxiety over the same period, with about 20% achieving remission. This indicates that the lower doses did not yield significant benefits beyond the placebo effect.

The enhancements seen with the higher doses are significantly greater than those produced by the placebo, states Sunjeev Kamboj from University College London. “This marks a clinically meaningful improvement in terms of distress and disability,” he notes.

The progress observed in the placebo group is a common occurrence in anxiety studies, likely influenced by factors such as participants’ enthusiasm and attention during the trial, Kamboj adds.

The team noted that they could accurately ascertain whether most participants received LSD or placebo. Psychedelics typically produce hallucinations, which can affect many individuals. Across all groups, participants experienced nausea and headaches about 12 hours post-treatment.

At lower LSD doses, those on placebo reported hallucinations significantly less frequently than at higher psychedelics doses. This complicates the assessment of whether the benefits observed are due to individual expectations based on perceived effects or the direct influence of the drug on the brain, Kamboj explains.

Despite these caveats, the study offers compelling evidence that LSD could be a viable anxiety treatment, he states. “It’s a promising finding, indicating it can quickly alleviate symptoms. This is highly relevant for patients.”

The results have led the US Food and Drug Administration to classify MindMed’s LSD formulations as a breakthrough therapy, expediting the drug development process. Karlin mentions that the team has conducted thorough follow-up trials for over three months, with anticipated results forthcoming in the next few years.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Microdosing LSD does not effectively treat ADHD

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Can microdosing psychedelics focus on the mind?

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Taking small repeated doses of the psychedelic drug LSD does not reduce ADHD symptoms more than placebo.

Microdosing psychedelic drugs involve taking them several times a week in small amounts, sufficient to avoid experiencing hallucinations. There is little evidence to support this, but there is a broad view that this can increase happiness, creativity and focus. Additionally, some studies have reported that people who microdose as a way to treat ADHD have improved symptoms, but these studies have been observed and rely on self-reported data.

To more rigorously test the effects of drugs on ADHD, Matthias Liechti The University of Basel, Switzerland and his colleagues conducted the first randomized controlled trial of LSD microdoshing for ADHD. They recruited 53 adults living in the Netherlands or Switzerland who had been diagnosed with ADHD and experienced moderate to severe symptoms. Twenty-seven participants received 20 mirogram doses of LSD twice a week at the upper microodour limit, yet only a fifth of the standard dose, while the rest were given a placebo.

Symptoms of ADHD were assessed at the start of the study and were assessed 6 weeks later using a 54-point scale. On average, participants receiving the placebo had an average score reduction of approximately 7 percentage points. This is not a major difference, suggesting that LSD is better than a placebo for improving ADHD symptoms, says Liechti.

However, he says the dosage may have been unsuitable for treating ADHD. LSD, similar to how ADHD medications currently work, may need to be taken daily to experience a reduction in symptoms, he says Conor Murray At the University of California, Los Angeles.

“We still need to check if there is an acute dose while the drug is in your body – does it alleviate the symptoms?” Murray says. “It's kind of the first step, if not, you rarely even have to ask if there's a permanent change.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com