Randomised, double-blind, active-placebo controlled Phase II pilot (n=12) testing two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions (200 µg vs 20 µg) in people with anxiety related to potentially fatal illness.
Randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group Phase II pilot of LSD-assisted psychotherapy in people with advanced potentially fatal illness and clinically significant anxiety; participants receive two day-long dosing psychotherapy sessions 2–4 weeks apart with either 200 µg or 20 µg LSD.
Primary outcomes assess anxiety and quality of life at acute and follow-up visits; participants who receive the active placebo in the randomised phase may opt into an open-label phase receiving the full dose.
200 µg LSD administered orally at the start of two day-long psychotherapy sessions (2–4 weeks apart).
200 µg once per dosing session
Psychotherapy by male and female co-therapists during dosing sessions
20 µg LSD administered orally at the start of two day-long psychotherapy sessions (2–4 weeks apart).
20 µg once per dosing session (active placebo)
Psychotherapy by male and female co-therapists during dosing sessions
In a 12‑month follow‑up of patients with anxiety related to life‑threatening disease, medically supervised LSD‑assisted psychotherapy produced sustained reductions in anxiety and improved quality of life with no lasting adverse reactions. Qualitative analysis suggests these benefits arose from facilitated emotional access, cathartic and peak experiences, interpersonal insights and a lasting restructuring of outlook and habits.