Speaker Bio
Anna Becker studied Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Basel. Since 2020 she has been a PhD candidate in the psychopharmacology research group of Prof. Matthias Liechti at the University Hospital Basel where she investigates the role of 5-HT2A receptor down-regulation and antagonism in the acute effects of psilocybin and LSD. In this function, she has accompanied over 200 psychedelic experiences. She is interested in the basic physiological processes of psychedelics as well as their psychotherapeutic applications. She has started psychotherapy training in 2021 and has been working clinically since. Hence, she was able to conduct LSD assisted therapy sessions within the “LSD against depression” phase II study in Basel.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
LSD for depression - a randomized, double-blind, low dose-controlled phase II trial
Theoretical Background and Rationale: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is still one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is hypothesized to diminish depressive symptoms, however, no modern trial has tested this with different dosages.
Research Question and Hypothesis: This study aimed to assess LSD’s efficacy and safety in different dosages for MDD in randomized, parallel, double-blind, controlled trial.
Methods and Analysis: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 100 µg LSD in session 1 and 200 µg LSD in session 2 (high-dose condition) or two times 25 µg LSD (low-dose condition). Supportive psychotherapy was provided before, during and after the study sessions with LSD. Primary endpoint was the change in the score on the clinician-rated inventory of depressive symptomatology (IDS-C) from baseline to two weeks after each administration. Efficacy outcomes were assessed using a restricted maximum-likelihood mixed model for repeated measures on least square mean (LSM) change from baseline. Adverse events (AEs) were reported on a standard form, counted and directly compared between conditions.
Main Findings: 29 patients were randomized to the low-dose and 27 to the high-dose condition (25 female, 31 male). LSM change from baseline was -3.6 in the low-dose and -12.9 in the high-dose group (Cohen's d = -0.6, p=0.023). Adverse events were comparable between groups (low-dose: 222; high-dose: 239).
Conclusion: The high-dose condition induced significant and clinically meaningful decreases in depressive symptoms beyond the responses in the low-dose condition. LSD could be used safely within the framework of this study.