Dose-response relationships of LSD-induced subjective experiences in humans.
Tim Hirschfeld, Johanna Prugger, Tomislav Majić, Timo T Schmidt
Neuropsychopharmacology October 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01588-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | LSD |
| Dose | up to 200 μg base |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Consciousness research Pharmacology |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key findings | Most scales of altered states of consciousness show a sigmoid-like increase with LSD dose, plateauing at around 100 μg, with the strongest modulation in perception and illusory imagination. |
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent classic serotonergic psychedelic, which facilitates a variety of altered states of consciousness. Here we present the first meta-analysis establishing dose-response relationship estimates of the altered states of consciousness induced by LSD. Data extracted from articles identified by a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines were obtained from the Altered States Database. The psychometric data comprised ratings of subjective effects from standardized and validated questionnaires: the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC, 11-ASC) and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30). We performed meta-regression analyses using restricted cubic splines for data from studies with LSD doses of up to 200 μg base. Most scales revealed a sigmoid-like increase of effects, with a plateauing at around 100 μg. The most strongly modulated factors referred to changes in perception and illusory imagination, followed by positively experienced ego-dissolution, while only small effects were found for Anxiety and Dread of Ego Dissolution. The considerable variability observed in most factors and scales points to the role of non-pharmacological factors in shaping subjective experiences. The established dose-response relationships may be used as general references for future experimental and clinical research on LSD to compare observed with expected subjective effects and to elucidate phenomenological differences between psychedelics.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on LSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 24
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological predictors of the LSD experience in healthy participants. Translational Psychiatry September 4, 2024
- Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2025
- Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness. Communications Psychology April 13, 2025
- Prediction of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and thought disturbance symptoms following psychedelic use. PNAS Nexus April 1, 2025
- Phenomenology of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Distressing Effects: Quantifying Subjective Experiences. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences December 31, 2024
and 19 more in the library
Cites 53
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- Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences April 11, 2016
- Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 4, 2014
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
and 48 more in the library