LSD may boost mental fitness

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may be beneficial for use in psychological-assisted therapy, with a recent study reporting that a 100-mcg dose of LSD enhances the ability of the mind to function efficiently and effectively across a range of situations, according to a study.

Researchers accessed multiple online databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of LSD in healthy people. The meta-analysis included five RCTs with 132 healthy adults.

Pooled data showed that compared with placebo, administering LSD at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mcg LSD doses was associated with a significant increase in the maximal difference from baseline for the outcome of Adjective Mood Rating Scale score.

Significant differences existed between the LSD and placebo groups when taking 100 and 200 mcg LSD in terms of acute adverse effects (100 mcg: standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.97, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.50–1.44; p<0.001; 200 mcg: SMD, 1.18, 95 percent CI, 0.65–1.72; p<0.001).

In recent years, LSD has been explored in psychiatric research, and corresponding therapy has increased rapidly. The present data suggest that a 100-mcg dose of LSD has potential to improve the mental fitness of patients with disease-related psychiatric distress.

More clinical trials are necessary to explore the efficacy and safety of LSD as a psychological-assisted therapy.