Greater subjective effects of a low dose of LSD in participants with depressed mood.
Hanna Molla, Royce Lee, Ilaria Tare, Harriet de Wit
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology April 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01772-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | Adults with mild depressed mood (scoring high or low on the Beck Depression-II inventory) |
| Intervention | LSD (26 µg) |
| Dose | 26 µg |
| Duration | Two 5-hour laboratory sessions separated by at least one week; 48-hour follow-up after each session |
| Topics | Microdosing LSD |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Depression treatment Clinical research Mood disorders |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key findings | A low dose of LSD (26 µg) elicits more pronounced positive mood and stimulant-like effects, as well as stronger altered states of consciousness, in individuals with depressive symptoms compared to non-depressed individuals. |
Abstract
Recent studies and anecdotal reports suggest that psychedelics can improve mood states, even at low doses. However, few placebo-controlled studies have examined the acute effects of low doses of LSD in individuals with psychiatric symptoms. In the current study, we examined the acute and sub-acute effect of a low dose of LSD (26 µg) on subjective effects and mood in volunteers with mild depressed mood. The study used a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to compare the effects of LSD in two groups of adults: participants who scored high (≥17; n = 20) or low (<17; n = 19) on the Beck Depression-II inventory (BDI) at screening. Participants received a single low dose of LSD (26 µg) and placebo during two 5-h laboratory sessions, separated by at least one week. Subjective, physiological, and mood measures were assessed at regular intervals throughout the sessions, and behavioral measures of creativity and emotion recognition were obtained at expected peak effect. BDI depression scores and mood ratings were assessed 48-h after each session. Relative to placebo, LSD (26 µg) produced expected, mild physiological and subjective effects on several measures in both groups. However, the high BDI group reported significantly greater drug effects on several indices of acute effects, including ratings of vigor, elation, and affectively positive scales of a measure of psychedelic effects (5D-ASC). The high BDI group also reported a greater decline in BDI depression scores 48-h after LSD, compared to placebo. These findings suggest that an acute low dose of LSD (26 µg) elicits more pronounced positive mood and stimulant-like effects, as well as stronger altered states of consciousness in individuals with depressive symptoms, compared to non-depressed individuals.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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A low dose of LSD (26 µg) produced more pronounced positive mood, stimulant-like effects, and altered states of consciousness in individuals with depressive symptoms compared to non-depressed individuals, with a greater decline in depression scores 48 hours after dosing.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on LSD and microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Report on the Effects of a Low Dose of LSD on Resting-State Amygdala Functional Connectivity. Healthy young adults, 18 to 35 years old | 2019 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 20 |
| Acute Mood-Elevating Properties of Microdosed Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Volunteers: A Home-Administered Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthy male volunteers | 2023 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 80 |
| Low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) increase reward-related brain activity. Healthy adults | 2023 | Within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment | n = 18 |
| Inter-individual variability in neural response to low doses of LSD. Healthy participants | 2024 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 53 |
| LSD increases sleep duration the night after microdosing. Healthy adult male volunteers | 2024 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 80 |