Today, generalized anxiety disorder is affecting millions of Americans. The disorder usually traps the sufferers in cycles of fear and isolation in a way that even standard treatments cannot relieve completely. UCSF neuroscientist Jennifer Mitchell, PhD, is testing a surprising brand-new approach that can ease symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder by reshaping how the brain thinks and feels.
A clinical LSD formulation shows significant results for severe anxiety. Trials have revealed there is meaningful symptom relief and also less side effects.
About one in every twenty adults in the United States of America suffers from generalized anxiety disorder. In many cases, people may become so withdrawn that they hardly leave their homes, struggle to maintain their careers, and find it difficult to form meaningful social connections. There are standard medications that provide only limited relief.
Jennifer Mitchell, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco, studies new treatments for conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, stress, impulsivity, and drug and alcohol dependence. She has tested an experimental drug that has shown potential benefits.
Now, what is this promising latest treatment? It is a pharmaceutical version of LSD.
A Brief Note on Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is a chronic mental condition where the victim has excessive anxiety that can significantly disrupt daily functioning. Some of the symptoms of this disorder are trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering information. These challenges can interfere with a patient’s ability to work, care for family members, or manage a household. Many people with generalized anxiety disorder also experience depression, along with fatigue, restlessness, and a sense of constant tension. The sufferers often avoid leaving home due to constant fears and excessive worry of feeling embarrassed in public situations, and feeling helpless in everyday things.
Currently, about 3% of the adult population in the U.S. and 5% of people at any point during their lifespan. Only 43% of those affected with generalized anxiety disorder are receiving proper treatment. (1)
Available Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Medications like Paxil and Zoloft are usually used to treat generalized anxiety disorders. These medications boost and stabilize serotonin or the neurotransmitter, thus resulting in reduced anxiety and improved emotional well-being. It was found that these medications can reduce symptoms by an average of 1.25 points on the 56-point anxiety scale, which is insufficient to make a significant difference for certain patients.
What is LSD, and Why Choose This?
LSD, or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a potential psychedelic drug, also known as a classic hallucinogen. It has a significant potential to shift mood and emotions in patients with generalized anxiety disorder when used in a controlled, therapeutic setting.
The pharmaceutical formulation of LSD is MM120. Its primary mechanism is to promote neuroplasticity in the brain, tremendously altering negative thought patterns. It also promotes communication between brain regions that might address the rigid thinking that underlies generalized anxiety disorder.
MM120: How effective is it?
A single dose of LSD or Lysergic acid diethylamide was found to reduce anxiety significantly, and it lasted for months. According to a novel phase 2b clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, it has been found that a single dose of a pharmaceutical-grade LSD can be a potential new treatment for GAD.
The study tested MM120, which is an oral form of LSD developed by MindMed, in about 200 adults with moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder. Results have shown that merely a 100-microgram dose of MM120 resulted in a statistically significant 7.6-point drop in anxiety scores, with 65% of study participants responding to treatment and about half reaching clinical remission. The best part of this was that just after one dose, these improvements were sustained for at least 12 weeks, without the need for daily medications.
How Does MM120 Work for Those with GAD?
Scientists say that MM120 may work by enhancing brain connectivity and promoting neuroplasticity, which significantly improves the ability of the brain to reorganize and heal.
Some of the side effects of MM120 that were noted were mild nausea and isolated cases of psychosis. However, the treatment was generally well-tolerated. Researchers urge caution and request longer-term studies; however, they also acknowledge the potential of the therapy to transform psychiatric care.
Conclusion
Current antianxiety drugs and antidepressants are inadequate for around half of patients with generalized anxiety disorder. MM120 could mark a paradigm shift in how anxiety disorders are treated-offering instant and durable relief without the burden of daily drug regimens.
