High doses of LSD may help those living with depression

Depression, that silent pain affecting millions, continues to challenge modern medicine. Conventional medications, traditional therapies, attempts and relapses. But science, restless and tireless, continues to seek new ways to illuminate this tunnel. A new study conducted in Switzerland brings a different and psychedelic light.

Researchers from the University of Basel investigated the use of LSD, that substance often associated with the imagery of past decades, as a real and safe treatment possibility for people with moderate to severe depression. And the results not only surprise: they move.

When the dive is deep, transformation follows

Participants were divided into two groups: one received higher doses of the substance (100 μg and 200 μg), while the other received doses considered low (25 μg). The follow-up lasted up to 12 weeks after the last session, and what was seen was promising: those who dived deep into the higher doses came out lighter.

The improvement in depressive symptoms was more significant among those who took the higher doses in conjunction with the so-called "psychedelic-assisted therapy," which is done in a controlled environment and with professional supervision. The study also highlighted the safety of LSD in this context.

The therapy that listens to what the body cannot say

“The strengths of this study include a clinically representative sample,” the authors said, noting that the evaluated group had a history of illnesses, comorbidities, and different types of previous treatments. In other words, real patients, like so many seeking relief today.

And as much as LSD is still surrounded by stigmas, the data shows that it can be a valuable ally. The substance's effect, longer than that of psilocybin, for example, requires more extensive sessions but can also offer more lasting results.

A timid step towards the future of medicine

It is not yet the definitive revolution. But it is a step, and steps like these matter, especially for those who are too stuck in the same place. The study is considered preliminary but paves the way for a phase 3 clinical trial, with more patients and international validation.

So much so that the FDA (US regulatory agency) has already recognized LSD as an “innovative therapy” for treating generalized anxiety disorder. This seal aims to accelerate research and develop therapies for conditions that still do not find answers in available treatments.

Human (and even canine) hearts that respond to care

In addition to humans, there are reports that further pique science's curiosity: a dog treated with LSD for separation anxiety showed significant improvement, with no adverse effects. It may seem unlikely, but it shows how much there is to learn, even from beings that feel without needing to name.

Another study showed that the combination of LSD with low doses of MDMA can soften the psychedelic experience, highlighting positive emotions and reducing discomfort in more sensitive patients.

With information from Marijuana Moment.
 

Read Also

Cannabis and depression: a complex relationship

Study with LSD in dogs with autism reveals unprecedented brain synchrony between species

The rebirth of hallucinogenic drugs in the light of science