June 2026
LSD
What June 2026's 8 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All LSD research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 4 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide, lysergide, then ranked by relevance.
Research on LSD in June 2026 shows mixed evidence: a small RCT found that repeated low-dose LSD (20 µg) improved temporal processing but not other cognitive domains in adults with ADHD, while a crossover trial in healthy subjects found that a higher dose (100 µg) improved motor learning and reduced stress one week later. However, a systematic review concluded there is insufficient evidence to recommend psychedelics for ADHD, and a narrative review highlighted risks of exacerbating psychosis in vulnerable individuals. The main caveats are the small sample sizes, secondary analyses, and lack of long-term safety data.
Evidence by study
Direction is which way each study's own result points, not our rating of the study.
What the directions mean
- Supports:
- the study found the intervention worked, or its hypothesis held.
- Opposes:
- it found the opposite, no benefit or a harm.
- No effect:
- no significant difference either way.
- Mixed:
- effects in both directions within the same study.
- Unclear:
- the abstract does not report a direction.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of repeated low-dose LSD on neuropsychological functioning in adults with ADHD: a randomized placebo-controlled study 2026 | RCT | 53 | Mixed | Repeated low-dose LSD (20 µg) improved temporal processing but not attention, inhibition, or motivation in adults with ADHD. |
| Acute and post-acute neurobehavioral responses to lysergic acid diethylamide in healthy subjects: a randomized controlled study 2026 | RCT | 45 | Supports | A single 100 µg dose of LSD improved offline motor learning the next day and reduced perceived stress and increased cognitive flexibility one week later. |
| The effects of psychedelics on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder - a systematic review. 2026 | systematic review | No effect | There is not sufficient evidence to recommend psychedelics for ADHD; only one RCT found no statistically important difference compared to placebo. | |
| The intersection between psychedelics and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Reevaluating risk and therapeutic potential. 2026 | narrative review | Opposes | Psychedelics can exacerbate pre-existing psychotic illness and may trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals, though the magnitude of risk is not well quantified. |
Repeated low-dose LSD (20 µg) improved temporal processing but not attention, inhibition, or motivation in adults with ADHD.
RCT Sample size: 53
A single 100 µg dose of LSD improved offline motor learning the next day and reduced perceived stress and increased cognitive flexibility one week later.
RCT Sample size: 45
There is not sufficient evidence to recommend psychedelics for ADHD; only one RCT found no statistically important difference compared to placebo.
systematic review
Psychedelics can exacerbate pre-existing psychotic illness and may trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals, though the magnitude of risk is not well quantified.
narrative review
Points of agreement
- Both human trials found that LSD can produce measurable behavioral effects (improved temporal processing, motor learning, reduced stress) in controlled settings.
- The systematic review and narrative review both indicate that evidence for therapeutic use is limited and that risks (e.g., psychosis) need further study.
Conflicts
- The ADHD trial found improvements in temporal processing with LSD, while the systematic review concluded there is insufficient evidence for psychedelics in ADHD, highlighting a gap between a single positive trial and the overall evidence base.
- The narrative review emphasizes risks of psychosis, whereas the human trials in healthy subjects and ADHD patients did not report such adverse effects, possibly due to exclusion criteria.
Gaps
- No studies examined long-term safety or durability of effects beyond one week.
- No research on LSD in clinical populations other than ADHD and healthy subjects was reported.
- The ADHD trial was a secondary analysis, and the systematic review found only one RCT, indicating a need for more primary trials.
- The relationship between dose, setting, and therapeutic outcomes remains unexplored in these studies.