Gasser, P., Holstein, D., Michel, Y., Doblin, R., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Passie, T., Brenneisen, R. (2014) The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease , 202(7) , 513-520
Abstract
A double-blind, randomized, active placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted to examine safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-assisted psychotherapy in 12 patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. Treatment included drug-free psychotherapy sessions supplemented by two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions 2 to 3 weeks apart. The primary outcome measure was State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) trait anxiety at 2 months after treatment end. Secondary outcomes included STAI state anxiety, Beck Depression Inventory, and a quality of life questionnaire. At 2-month follow-up, positive trends were found for the primary outcome, with an effect size of 1.28. Significant positive changes were observed in secondary outcome measures. No serious adverse events were reported. This pilot study found positive trends in the reduction of anxiety after two sessions of LSD-assisted psychotherapy, warranting larger controlled studies.