Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelics in Treating Anxiety Disorders
Summary & key facts
Researchers reviewed published clinical trials testing psychedelic drugs for people diagnosed with anxiety disorders. They found nine trials that used ayahuasca, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, or psilocybin. Overall, the studies showed reduced anxiety symptoms and better self-image or social functioning for people with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or anxiety linked to other medical problems. Many people kept some benefit for weeks, and the studies did not report any severe dangerous side effects. The authors say psychedelics might be an option for patients who do not get better with standard treatments, but the evidence comes from a small set of studies done between 2011 and 2021.
- The review looked at nine clinical trials that tested psychedelic-assisted treatments for diagnosed anxiety disorders.
- The nine studies included one trial of ayahuasca, four trials of ketamine, two of LSD, one of MDMA, and one of psilocybin.
- The trials reported reductions in anxiety symptoms for people with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and anxiety tied to other medical conditions.
- Patients in several studies showed better self-perception and improved social functioning after treatment.
- For many patients, the positive effects lasted for weeks after a psychedelic session.
- Across these studies, researchers did not report any severe adverse events, and they described the treatments as feasible and showing evidence of safety.
- The evidence covers studies published from about 2011 to 2021, so it comes from a relatively small and recent research base.
- The authors conclude that psychedelics could be considered as an alternative for people whose anxiety does not improve with standard treatments, but they do not claim this replaces current options.
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are commonly diagnosed and cause substantial functional impairment. A mixture of pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments currently exists, but these treatments are not always tolerable and effective. For patients with anxiety resistant to standard therapy, psychedelics may be a promising alternative. This review assesses the therapeutic benefits and safety of psychedelics in treating anxiety disorders. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL for clinical trials investigating psychedelics in patients with clinician-diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety attributable to another medical condition. We analyzed data from 9 independent psychedelic-assisted trials testing ayahuasca (1 study), ketamine (4 studies), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (2 studies), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (1 study), and psilocybin (1 study). Efficacy was assessed by measuring the change in outcome measures and the quality of life from baseline. Results: The reviewed studies demonstrated encouraging efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms, increasing self-perception, and increasing social function in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or anxiety attributable to another medical condition while establishing feasibility and evidence of safety. For many patients, the therapeutic effects of the psychedelic treatment lasted weeks, and no severe adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Based on the evidence of symptom reduction and safety, the current literature (2011 to 2021) shows that psychedelics could be considered for treating clinician-diagnosed anxiety disorders. Psychedelics may provide an alternative therapeutic option for patients resistant to current standard treatments.