LSD therapy: A few hundred meters from where it began.
Felix Müller, Anna M Becker, Christopher Böhlke, Matthias E. Liechti, Undine E. Lang
Med August 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2026.101233 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with major depression |
| Intervention | LSD-assisted therapy |
| Topics | LSD |
| Key findings | The text does not report specific findings; it reflects on the experience of conducting the trial and highlights what remains uncertain about LSD-assisted therapy for major depression. |
Abstract
In Basel, only a few hundred meters from where LSD was first synthesized, we tested LSD-assisted therapy for major depression in a randomized trial comparing two high doses with two low doses, each paired with supportive psychotherapy. This Backstory reflects on treating patients, long dosing days, and what remains uncertain.
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 |