Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects
Yasmin Schmid, Florian Enzler, Peter Gasser, Eric Grouzmann, Katrin H. Preller, Franz X. Vollenweider, Rudolf Brenneisen, Felix Müller, Stefan Borgwardt, Matthias E. Liechti
Biological Psychiatry November 29, 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.11.015 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Healthy subjects (8 women, 8 men) |
| Intervention | Lysergic acid diethylamide |
| Dose | 200 μg |
| Duration | 12 hours for subjective effects; adverse effects subsided within 72 hours |
| Topics | LSD Serotonin |
| Keywords | Prepulse inhibition Hallucinogen Depersonalization Placebo Heart rate Derealization Orthostatic vital signs Mood Adverse effect Psychosis Crossover study Blood pressure Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 425 |
| Key points | LSD produces pronounced hallucinogenic and empathogenic mood effects, decreases prepulse inhibition, and increases autonomic and endocrine measures in healthy subjects. |
Abstract
BackgroundAfter no research in humans for >40 years, there is renewed interest in using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in clinical psychiatric research and practice. There are no modern studies on the subjective and autonomic effects of LSD, and its endocrine effects are unknown. In animals, LSD disrupts prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response, and patients with schizophrenia exhibit similar impairments in PPI. However, no data are available on the effects of LSD on PPI in humans.MethodsIn a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study, LSD (200 μg) and placebo were administered to 16 healthy subjects (8 women, 8 men). Outcome measures included psychometric scales; investigator ratings; PPI of the acoustic startle response; and autonomic, endocrine, and adverse effects.ResultsAdministration of LSD to healthy subjects produced pronounced alterations in waking consciousness that lasted 12 hours. The predominant effects induced by LSD included visual hallucinations, audiovisual synesthesia, and positively experienced derealization and depersonalization phenomena. Subjective well-being, happiness, closeness to others, openness, and trust were increased by LSD. Compared with placebo, LSD decreased PPI. LSD significantly increased blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, pupil size, plasma cortisol, prolactin, oxytocin, and epinephrine. Adverse effects produced by LSD completely subsided within 72 hours. No severe acute adverse effects were observed.ConclusionsIn addition to marked hallucinogenic effects, LSD exerts methylenedioxymethamphetamine-like empathogenic mood effects that may be useful in psychotherapy. LSD altered sensorimotor gating in a human model of psychosis, supporting the use of LSD in translational psychiatric research. In a controlled clinical setting, LSD can be used safely, but it produces significant sympathomimetic stimulation.