Researchers administered low doses of LSD to a group of 8–12-week-old male mice for seven days. The mice were exposed to chronic restraint stress and then received different doses of LSD.
The head-twitch responses, which were the target protocol of the study, were recorded and were proportional to the different LSD doses administered to the mice. The doses were repeated at specific time intervals to assess the mice’s behavior and neurobiological responses. The results showed that intraperitoneal administration of LSD in non-stressed mice did not produce antidepressant or anxiolytic effects.
Administration of a half-dose of LSD according to the protocol to stressed mice prevented stress-induced anxiety-like behavior and stress-induced cellular changes in the brain.
Repeated administration of LSD also protected against worsening anxiety-like behaviors after chronic stress exposure, suggesting an anxiolytic effect of repeated LSD under anxiety-inducing conditions.
The researchers found that low LSD doses activated only serotonin transmission, while higher doses that stimulated the dopamine system produced psychotic effects.
According to the study results, low doses of LSD increase serotonin neurotransmission, as do representatives of the class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs are a class of antidepressants commonly used for stress-related anxiety and depression.
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