LSD, a future anti-anxiety pill? In any case, this is the serious avenue considered by Canadian researchers whose study is advancing the understanding of its beneficial mechanism of action on…
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Long taboo, research on psychedelics is accelerating. Illegal in many countries including France, this family of psychotropics, that is to say products that act on the brain, includes in particular the synthetic compound LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). The craze for this powerful hallucinogen for therapeutic use is real but the scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness and explaining its mode of action in the treatment of mental health disorders is still very thin. A new study led by researchers at McGill University (Canada) sheds light on previously unexplained neurobiological mechanisms by which LSD is believed to relieve anxiety.
Ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the third most common disease after cancer and cardiovascular disease, mental disorders are a major public health problem. Depression alone affects nearly 300 million people worldwide, according to the WHO. “ While preliminary studies suggested psychotherapy-assisted microdosing was effective to relieve anxiety and depressive symptoms in people with severe psychiatric or neurological problems, the biological mechanisms underlying these effects were not clear at this time. “, specifies the scientific team whose study was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
LSD in very low doses improves the transmission of serotonin
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This demonstrates for the first time that regular administration of low doses of LSD (non-hallucinogenic microdoses) reduces anxiety symptoms through similar neurobiological mechanisms certain classes of antidepressants and commonly prescribed anxiolytics: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) better known by their trade names: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa…” Our lack of knowledge about the biological processes associated with psychedelic drugs hampers the development of potential new treatments “Says Dr. Gabriella Gobbi. « Understanding the mechanisms of action and efficacy of psychedelics will help develop a more precise indication of hallucinogenic drugs for psychiatric and neurological diseases. »
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According to the results of the study, the use of LSD increases the nerve transmission of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays an essential role in the state of well-being. Prolonged periods of stress have been shown to decrease the activity of neurons that transmit serotonin. Like SSRI antidepressants, researchers believe that LSD desensitizes the receptors, which decreases the electrical activity of serotonin on these neurons, thereby stimulating them to release more serotonin. The study also revealed that low doses of LSD promoted the formation of new dendritic spines in rodents, the branches of neurons responsible for transmitting the electrical signal to the nerve cell body. ” We have shown that LSD can rebuild these ‘dismantled’ branches due to stress. A sign of brain plasticity. “, notes the scientific team.
Psychedelics, a future therapeutic option for mental disorders?
The latter evaluated the administration of low doses of LSD over a period of seven days on a group of mice subjected to chronic stress conditions. Results: Repeated doses showed optimal results in decreasing anxiety behaviors caused by stress. An encouraging observation, even if other studies are necessary to demonstrate the same effectiveness in humans. The next step for the team will be to assess the mechanisms of action other psychedelic substances, like psilocybin (active component of magic mushrooms) and ketamine. Because the researchers point out that mental disorders remain poorly treated: about a third of depressive patients present with depression that is resistant to current treatments, hence the need to find therapeutic alternatives.
Thus, LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca and MDMA are among the drugs under development, particularly in France at Inserm, to treat various disorders such as anxiety, depressionpost-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction, as well as certain neurodegenerative diseases. But caution and patience are needed because there is still a long way to go for the scientific community. “ Interest in LSD stems from its ability to influence serotonin levels and produce feelings of happiness, confidence and empathy as well as improved social behavior. However, further studies are needed to identify safe and effective therapeutic uses, as psychedelics can cause psychoses and neurotoxic effects.”concludes Dr. Gabriella Gobbi, who warns of the dangers of self-medication with illegal drugs.