Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 40) suggests that mystical-type experiences may be more frequently induced by psilocybin than LSD, and that the subjective effects of LSD are dose-dependent.
Authors
- Yasmin Schmid
- Patrick Dolder
- Matthias Liechti
Published
Abstract
Rationale
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is used recreationally and in clinical research. Acute mystical-type experiences that are acutely induced by hallucinogens are thought to contribute to their potential therapeutic effects. However, no data have been reported on LSD-induced mystical experiences and their relationship to alterations of consciousness. Additionally, LSD dose- and concentration response functions with regard to alterations of consciousness are lacking.
Methods
We conducted two placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over studies using oral administration of 100 and 200 μg LSD in 24 and 16 subjects, respectively. Acute effects of LSD were assessed using the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) scale after both doses and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) after 200 μg.
Results
On the MEQ, 200 μg LSD induced mystical experiences that were comparable to those in patients who underwent LSD-assisted psychotherapy but were fewer than those reported for psilocybin in healthy subjects or patients. On the 5D-ASC scale, LSD produced higher ratings of blissful state, insightfulness, and changed meaning of percepts after 200 μg compared with 100 μg. Plasma levels of LSD were not positively correlated with its effects, with the exception of ego dissolution at 100 μg.
Conclusions
Mystical-type experiences were infrequent after LSD, possibly because of the set and setting used in the present study. LSD may produce greater or different alterations of consciousness at 200 μg (i.e., a dose that is currently used in psychotherapy in Switzerland) compared with 100 μg (i.e., a dose used in imaging studies). Ego dissolution may reflect plasma levels of LSD, whereas more robustly induced effects of LSD may not result in such associations.
Research Summary of 'Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans'
Introduction
Liechti and colleagues situate their work within a renewed interest in clinical and experimental research on classic serotonergic hallucinogens, noting that psilocybin has produced acute mystical-type experiences that have been linked to positive long-term mood and therapeutic outcomes in some studies. They highlight that although LSD is widely used recreationally and has been tested intermittently in therapeutic contexts, systematic data on LSD-induced mystical experiences assessed with standard instruments such as the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) are lacking. Additionally, dose- and plasma concentration–response relationships for LSD with respect to alterations of consciousness have not been fully characterised, and prior fMRI studies frequently did not measure plasma LSD levels. The present study therefore aimed to (1) characterise mystical-type experiences after a therapeutically relevant oral dose of 200 μg LSD using the MEQ, (2) describe peak alterations of consciousness after oral doses of 100 and 200 μg using the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) scale, and (3) assess associations between plasma LSD concentrations (Cmax and AUC) and subjective effects. The investigators intended the work to inform comparisons with psilocybin research, the interpretation of imaging studies that use lower doses, and potential implications for LSD-assisted psychotherapy.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compounds
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- APA Citation
Liechti, M. E., Dolder, P. C., & Schmid, Y. (2017). Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans. Psychopharmacology, 234(9-10), 1499-1510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4453-0
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