JAMA Psychiatry

Low-dose LSD no better than placebo for improving ADHD symptoms

March 25, 2025

While repeated low-dose lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is safe for use in an outpatient setting, it didn’t provide a significant benefit over placebo in reducing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in adults. Clinicians should continue to rely on established pharmacological and behavioral therapies for managing ADHD symptoms.

Study details: This randomized trial, conducted at University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, evaluated the safety and efficacy of repeated low-dose LSD for treating ADHD in adults. The study included 53 participants aged 18 to 65 years with moderate to severe ADHD symptoms. Participants were randomized to receive either 20 μg of LSD or placebo twice weekly for 6 weeks. The primary outcome was change in ADHD symptoms as measured by the Adult Investigator Symptom Rating Scale.

Results: Both the LSD and placebo groups exhibited a significant but similar reduction of ADHD symptoms (-7.1 points and -8.9 points, respectively). LSD was found to be physically safe and psychologically well tolerated.

Source:

Mueller L, et al. (2025, March 19). JAMA Psychiatry. Safety and Efficacy of Repeated Low-Dose LSD for ADHD Treatment in Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40105807/