Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
A small but growing body of research suggests that psychedelic treatments can make people feel more connected to others. Many studies mix drugs, settings, and patient groups, so it is hard to say exactly how well LSD by itself helps if someone feels disconnected. The evidence is promising but limited. Researchers also warn about real risks, and they say that the way the drug is given and the therapy around it matters a lot (for good or ill). In short: some people report stronger social connection after psychedelic therapy, but most trials are small or early. Safety, long‑term effects, and whether LSD specifically is best for social disconnection are still uncertain and need more careful study.
This review explains how certain psychoactive drugs can cause hallucinations and why that matters. It says drugs such as psilocybin and LSD change brain chemicals called serotonin and dopamine, and that can make people see or hear things that are not there. Effects can be mild or very serious, sometimes…
