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Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Assessments of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the treatment of alcoholism have not been based on quantitative meta-analysis. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism. Two reviewers independently extracted the data, pooling the effects using odds ratios (ORs) by a generic inverse variance, random effects model. We identified six eligible trials, including 536 participants. There was evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcohol misuse (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.36–2.84; p = 0.0003). Between-trial heterogeneity for the treatment effects was negligible (I 2 = 0%). Secondary outcomes, risk of bias and limitations are discussed. A single dose of LSD, in the context of various alcoholism treatment programs, is associated with a decrease in alcohol misuse.
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“The meta-analysis demonstrated that participants treated with a single dose of LSD were significantly more likely than those in control conditions to show a reduction in alcohol misuse at the first reported follow-up, ranging from 1 to 12 months posttreatment, with an odds ratio of 1.96”
In the citing paper
“treatment comparison indicated a larger reduction in alcohol misuse and greater abstinence rates with LSD treatment than with commonly used AUD medication (i.e., naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram) [14].”
In the citing paper
“However, this effect did not remain statistically significant beyond the 12-month mark”
From A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [75]
In the citing paper
“A recent meta-analysis, which examined six RCTs, revealed that a single LSD dose had a significant and positive impact on reducing alcohol misuse in the first 1 to 12 months following treatment.”
From A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [75]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Krebs, T. S., & Johansen, P.-Ø.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Psychopharmacology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-03-08
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 994-1002
- ISSN
- 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7285
- OpenAlex
- W1973613743
- Cited by
- 583
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 39 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 63 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 3.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD, alcoholism, alcohol abuse, psychedelic therapy, alcoholism treatment, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcoholism, Combined Modality Therapy, Hallucinogens, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Substance Abuse Treatment Centers, Secondary Prevention
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