Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers
Nadia R. P. W. Hutten, Natasha L. Mason, Patrick C. Dolder, Eef L. Theunissen, Friederike Holze, Matthias E. Liechti, Nimmy Varghese, Anne Eckert, Amanda Feilding, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Kim P. C. Kuypers
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science August 31, 2020 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00099 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Placebo-controlled within-subject study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Intervention | LSD |
| Dose | 5, 10, and 20 μg |
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Topics | Neuroplasticity LSD |
| Keywords | Placebo Plasma levels Blood plasma Endocrinology Pharmacology |
| Citations | 134 |
| Key points | LSD at 5 and 20 μg increased BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 and 6 hours compared to placebo. |
Abstract
Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in using low doses of psychedelics for psychiatric indications and the importance of neuroplasticity in the therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated the effect of single low doses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, and BDNF levels were determined afterward in blood plasma using ELISA. The findings demonstrated an increase in BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 h (5 μg) and 6 h (5 and 20 μg) compared to that for the placebo. The finding that LSD acutely increases BDNF levels warrants studies in patient populations.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases Patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases | 2014 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 12 |
| Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Experienced hallucinogen users | 1994 | Double-blind, saline placebo-controlled, randomized study | n = 12 |
| Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects Healthy subjects (8 women, 8 men) | 2014 | Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study | n = 16 |
| Changes in global and thalamic brain connectivity in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness are attributable to the 5-HT2A receptor Healthy human participants | 2018 | Double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced, cross-over study | n = 24 |
| LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change. Healthy adults | 2016 | Balanced-order, placebo-controlled study | n = 19 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 111
- Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics Frontiers in Psychiatry September 10, 2021
- Neuroplasticity as a convergent mechanism of ketamine and classical psychedelics TIPS - Trends in Pharmacological Sciences September 24, 2021
- Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Neuroplastic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotransmitter Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews December 16, 2020
- Direct comparison of the acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects Neuropsychopharmacology February 25, 2022
and 106 more in the library
Cites 17
- Activation of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission by Ketamine: A Novel Step in the Pathway from NMDA Receptor Blockade to Dopaminergic and Cognitive Disruptions Associated with the Prefrontal Cortex Journal of Neuroscience April 15, 1997
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- BDNF Release Is Required for the Behavioral Actions of Ketamine The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology October 31, 2014
- Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Experimental Brain Research June 1, 2013
- Modulation of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor by a Single Dose of Ayahuasca: Observation From a Randomized Controlled Trial Frontiers in Psychology June 4, 2019
and 12 more in the library